Overview
From March to September each year, Aussie Rules football is Melbourne's favourite sport. In April, via a sprawling showcase that marks the NBA's first official global touring exhibition, basketball wants to join in as well. The NBA Exhibition celebrates hoop dreams and all things b-ball, and has just locked in its first-ever visit to the Victorian capital.
After premiering in Warsaw, Poland in 2021, The NBA Exhibition bounced into Brisbane in November 2023. Now, from Wednesday, April 3, 2024, it's Melbourne's turn — and to bound through basketball history at the same time. Catnip for fans of Air and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, this sports-focused affair is big in scope and size, surveying the culture of hopping onto the court and the lifestyle that goes with basketball, too. Visitors will traverse 1100 square metres and make their way through 20 themed sections.
Created with the National Basketball Association, The NBA Exhibition aims to lure in b-ball diehards, casual followers and folks that haven't thought about the sport since their school PE lessons alike — and attendees of all ages. Looking at basketball memorabilia is part of the presentation, but so is throwing a ball around yourself and, thanks to the virtual and augmented reality aspect of the showcase, taking snaps with your favourite NBA players.
So, you can get a photo with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, too — aka the coveted prize that each year's NBA Finals' winner receives — and shoot hoops, see how far you can jump and test your reflexes as well. Fancy a picture showing that you can slam dunk, even if you can't? There's a section of The NBA Exhibition for that. Eager to watch NBA highlights using VR goggles? That's also on the agenda. Keen to get surrounded by iconic NBA moments? That's what the infinity room is for.
With names like Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal obviously featuring — and Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird as well — other elements of The NBA Exhibition include a heap of balls and shoes on display; footwear and hand prints from past and present players; art that was commissioned for a pop-up NBA Gallery exhibit in Sydney in 2022, featuring Australian and First Nations artists; and celebrating NBA players that've made the jump from Australia, which is likely to feature Patty Mills, Ben Simmons, Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze and more.
The District Docklands will host The NBA Exhibition's debut Melbourne stop. The showcase hails from entertainment platform Fever, which is also behind The Art of Banksy: Without Limits. So far, the latter doesn't have Melbourne dates — but it's in the waitlist stage, so fingers crossed that a local season gets announced soon.
The NBA Exhibition will display at The District Docklands, 440 Docklands Drive, Docklands, Melbourne from Wednesday, April 3, 2024 — head to the exhibition's website for further details and to join the waitlist, with tickets on sale on Wednesday, February 21.
Images: Muse Marketing and Entertainment.