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A viral Reddit post has detailed an unpleasant experience involving NBA legend Allen Iverson, with Challenge CEO stating he “let down children and families” during a meet-and-greet in Melbourne last week. The post, shared by user Fit-Tourist2852 on r/NBA - a subreddit with more than 17 million members - described an interaction with Iverson at an event hosted by Cavalo Prestige in Melbourne on Thursday, January 22. “Allen Iverson came to Cavalo Prestige Melbourne to meet 12 kids who are battling cancer,” the post read. “My little brother, who is 12 years old and currently receiving chemotherapy for ALCL lymphoma, was so excited to meet one of his idols. He came out extremely disgusted and disappointed in Allen Iverson’s behaviour - and so were the other families.”
This incident comes to light just days after NBL legend Chris Anstey publicly expressed his disappointment following Allen Iverson’s failure to appear at a CreativeCubes.Co event in Melbourne on Friday, January 23. The free event was promoted as a guest speaking appearance by Iverson, with fans travelling interstate to attend the Melbourne-based function. However, more than two hours after the scheduled start time, Iverson cancelled his appearance. “So here in Melbourne for an Allen Iverson event - a really good-looking event up on the roof at CreativeCubes.Co, one of the South East Melbourne Phoenix sponsors,” Anstey said on social media. “Some great sponsors involved, people flying in from Sydney and coming from everywhere. Only one problem - Iverson didn’t turn up.”
Talks about the Pelicans’ trip to Melbourne began when Dyson Daniels — an Australian product — was playing for the club. He was traded to Atlanta in the deal that sent Dejounte Murray to New Orleans in 2024, but the Pelicans saw plenty of value in making the trip to Australia regardless. “Any time we get an opportunity to use the platform that we’ve been blessed to have and impact other people, especially by going to different countries, it’s an honor, really,” Green said. “Credit to the NBA, credit to our organization, all the folks in Australia. Because to put this on, it takes a lot. It just goes to show you the reach of the NBA and how global the game has become. So, we’re grateful to have this opportunity.”
Josh Giddey, who is currently training individually in Melbourne, surprised fans by practicing alongside Jerian Grant, Kendrick Nunn, Nikos Rogkavopoulos, and Giannis Kouzeloglou. “Here I train every day, and when I heard they were coming, I thought it was a good chance to get into rhythm as well. They’re a very good team, respected all over Europe. It was the first time I practiced with a EuroLeague team. They have a game on Thursday and were a bit ‘tired,’ so a few of us jumped in to help them out, run up and down the court, and get them ready for the match,” Giddey said.
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During the Detroit Pistons’ 2005-06 season, the franchise’s best regular-season record at 64-18, a then-9-year-old Jack Kelly watched his first Pistons game. That is, despite a 14-hour time difference between Eastern Time in Detroit and Australian Eastern Standard in Melbourne, Australia, where Kelly grew up and currently resides. As time has gone on, Kelly’s affinity for the team has only grown stronger. Kelly’s fandom provided stability during his childhood and enough sustainability later as an adult to pursue full-time Pistons content creation. After initially working in construction for 10 years, he went to work full-time for Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL) before quitting to pursue content creation.
“You gotta be a city person if you want to be in New York,” said Simmons, a native of Melbourne, Australia. “Biggest city in the world, you know? Mecca of basketball. Living here is great; it was a great experience for me. One thing I learned is, I’m not a city person. I like to be by the water. I like to see grass, see trees. So … it’s a different experience. But I had a blessed time here. I got family from New York that are here, so it’s always going to be another home for me. “I came here when I was younger. I think it’s just nonstop. It’s just that culture, you know? People are always going and working. You know, it’s a grind city.”
Kyrie Irving: I was born in Melbourne, Australia. I spent about a year and a half there — my dad played for the Bulleen Boomers. My mom and dad got together, and a few months later I was born. My mom ended up getting sick and had to fly back to the West Coast — Washington State. She was raised in Port Orchard and Bremerton. She went to Lincoln High School and later to Boston University, where she met my dad. When she got sick in Australia, she flew home first. My dad had to suddenly leave with me and my sister Asia. We went back to the Bronx — Mitchell Projects, look it up — and that’s where I spent a large part of my childhood. My dad created an environment of love, morals, and respect — old-school values. My mom unfortunately overdosed in 1996. I was four. Not long after, my grandmother passed the same way. It changed our lives forever.”
Ben Simmons: For me, going to a city like Philadelphia—it was so different. From Melbourne, Australia, to Louisiana, to Philly—completely different places. The fans, for instance. I didn’t appreciate the fans enough. The fans in Philadelphia are incredible. You always want to play for a team with a good fan base. Whether they’re booing or cheering, you just want fans to care. You want the arena packed.
But if not Team USA… Kyrie Irving: I would love to entertain playing for Team Australia, man. (While Irving was born in Melbourne, Australia, and holds dual citizenship, he could only play for the Australian national team if both Team USA and FIBA approved his choice.) Kyrie Irving: I don’t think it’s a strong, strong possibility at this point, depending on what the Olympic Committee does. But as a competitor, I was born in Australia. For me, it’s not a hard transition to make, but I don’t want to fall into the same, I would say, probably like — I’m trying to be very intentional with my words here. I don’t want to fall into the trap of being let down or disappointed when I know that there are other opportunities out there for me.
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Carmelo Anthony is heading Down Under. The 10-time All-Star will be coming for a whirlwind tour with stops in Melbourne and Perth to connect with fans with a series of events. Running basketball camps in both cities, Anthony will also be hosting 'An Evening with Carmelo Anthony' — sharing his personal stories from his journey to the NBA and his illustrious career, as well as a fan Q&A.
Midway through the first quarter of the Boomers’ exhibition game against South Sudan in Melbourne, Landale turned his left ankle after landing on the foot of Marial Shayok. The Boomers big man immediately clutched his ankle in pain, before hobbling straight to the locker room, unable to put significant pressure on his left foot.
The Australian National Team has announced a 13-man squad that will head to Melbourne to participate in warm-up matches ahead of the FIBA World Cup. Matthew Dellavedova and Will McDowell-White are not included in the group traveling to Melbourne.
The three warm-up games against Venezuela, Brazil, and South Sudan are scheduled to take place in Melbourne on August 14, 16, and 17. The Australian squad includes: Xavier Cooks, Dyson Daniels, Dante Exum, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, Josh Green, Joe Ingles, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Patty Mills, Duop Reath, Matisse Thybulle, Jack White.