IT is just over a month until the National Basketball League action kicks off for the 2023\/24 season, and another batch of pre-season games have been announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has been three months since the last dose of NBL basketball, with the Sydney Kings<\/a> winning the title in the most recent outing for the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, that all changes this Thursday, when the Brisbane Bullets<\/a> take on the California Baptist Lancers in an exhibition game at UniSC Arena in Sippy Downs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The American-based Lancers have hosted a number of Aussie talents, including the Armstrong brothers in Taran <\/strong>and Tre<\/strong> for the past few years, so there is a massive connection between the school and the land down under.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It will give the Bullets an opportunity to get some runs on the board ahead of next month’s start date, while the Lancers will get a taste of basketball talent abroad as they gear up for their upcoming collegiate campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The visitors will then take on Melbourne United<\/a> and the SEM Phoenix<\/a> on Saturday and Sunday respectively, rounding out their three-game trip to Australia and giving both Melbourne-based sides the chance to hit the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a couple of NBL-exclusive clashes thrown in the mix as well, with the Adelaide 36ers<\/a> taking on the Phoenix on September 1, before the latter lock horns with their cross-town rivals in United eight days later down in Casey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NBL action will be heading abroad when the Perth Wildcats<\/a> head over to the United States, facing off against the G-League Ignite in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ignite have been one of the fastest growing teams in basketball over the past few years, hosting some of the best and brightest NBA prospects in the world. Last year, eventual number-three pick Scoot Henderson <\/strong>suited up for the team and helped boost his stock during that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n