The 76ers will entertain Australia’s National Basketball League champion Melbourne United this preseason, according to multiple sources.
Sixers point guard Ben Simmons and coach Brett Brown have ties to the United. Simmons’ father, David, played for the Australian professional basketball team, formerly known as the Melbourne Tigers, from 1989 to 1996. Melbourne retired his No. 25 jersey. Brown served as the team’s assistant coach from 1988 to 1993.
This season, the United won the franchise’s fifth title with a victory over the Adeliade 36ers in decisive game of the best-of-five championship series. Their other four titles – in 1993, 1997, 2006 and 2008 – came as the Tigers.