High hoops in NBA match

BOOMERS coach Andrej Lemanis says the two-game series against the star-studded USA in Melbourne next year shows how much global credibility and respect has been earned by Australian basketball.

A full-strength Australia will play the might of the Americans at Etihad Stadium on August 22 and 24 in the build-up to the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China which starts on August 31.

More than 50,000 will pack the AFL venue for each game with more than 20 NBA players to be on show.