The Sydney skyline lit up on Monday night with a dazzling drone show to mark a major announcement in the world of basketball: Basketball Powerhouses light up Australia: Panathinaikos & Partizan set for historic NBL Tournament. Two of Europe’s most iconic clubs, Panathinaikos AKTOR BC and KK Partizan, are heading to Australia this September for the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament, marking the first time the prestigious event will be held outside of Europe.
The National Basketball League (NBL) officially launched the tournament in Sydney, in partnership with EuroLeague giants Panathinaikos and Partizan. The event promises a once-in-a-generation basketball experience, uniting European and Australian basketball cultures under one roof.
“This is a great moment for the NBL and for basketball fans across Australia,” said NBL Director Nikola Milivojevic.
“To have two of Europe’s most historic clubs competing alongside the Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers speaks volumes about the NBL’s global reputation and the rising passion Australians have for the game.”
The action will tip off with a friendly showdown between Panathinaikos and Partizan at John Cain Arena in Melbourne on Thursday 18 September, before the full four-team tournament unfolds at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Sunday 21 and Monday 22 September.
Panathinaikos President Vassilis Parthenopoulos, speaking to 3XY Radio Hellas’s Kostas Paterakis, reflected on the cultural and emotional significance of the event for the global Greek community:
“We are proud to bring the legacy of Panathinaikos and the memory of Pavlos Giannakopoulos to Australia. This tournament is a milestone in our global journey — a celebration of unity, pride, and shared values. It also holds deep cultural importance, connecting us with the Greek diaspora in Australia. We owe this to them.”
Having grown up and studied in Melbourne, Mr Parthenopoulos expressed his excitement at returning to a country with such a vibrant Hellenic community and praised the leadership of Dimitris Giannakopoulos, who continues to build on his father’s legacy, following Panathinaikos’ recent EuroLeague triumph in Berlin.
For the Serbian powerhouse KK Partizan, the tour is equally meaningful. Club President Ostoja Mijailovic emphasized the opportunity to deepen ties with the Serbian-Australian community:
“We are delighted to showcase our club and European basketball to Australian fans. This is more than just basketball — it’s about strengthening our community, sharing our story, and reconnecting with Serbian expatriates. We are confident they will come out in strong numbers to support us.”
Few understand the significance of this moment better than Aleks Maric, a former Sydney Kings player who also wore the jerseys of both Panathinaikos and Partizan.
“Two of the European heavyweights and my local Sydney Kings team — this is something truly special,” said Maric.
“You can’t really explain it until you live it. You’ve got 20,000 people screaming with everything on the line. It should be one of the Seven Wonders of the sporting world.”
The tournament also reflects the NBL’s broader ambition to connect with global basketball traditions while growing its local base. NBL owner and Executive Director Larry Kestelman said:
“We are thrilled that the Kings and 36ers will represent Australia against two elite EuroLeague sides. Hosting the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament shows how far our league has come and the international respect it commands.”
As the countdown begins, excitement is building not only among basketball fans but also within the Greek and Serbian communities across Australia, who now have the chance to witness their beloved clubs on home soil.
