NBA scouts to converge on Perth for HoopsFest as NBL looks to follow draft success of Perth Wildcat Alex Sarr

Perth will host 10 NBA staff from seven teams this week as the city takes centre stage in the biggest basketball extravaganza the sport has attempted in Australia.

HoopsFest will see every NBL and WNBL team competing throughout Perth while the under 18 Club Championships and NBA Basketball Without Borders camp will also take place. With the NBL’s opening round being played throughout the city, NBA scouts are keen to view players live while under the added pressure of the regular season starting.

Portland Trailblazers, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards will all be represented and some clubs have staff participating in the activities surrounding the event.

The NBL has attracted another strong crop of Next Stars to excite NBA teams, including exciting Spaniard Izan Almansa who will play for Perth Wildcats.

NBA scouts were constantly rotating through Perth last season watching Wildcats’ Next Star Alex Sarr in both games and during training. He joined Washington as the second pick in the NBA Draft.

Celebrities will also be arriving headlined by former NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony. He will attend matches, conduct clinics and do a speaking show as basketball fans soak up the chance to be with NBA royalty.

Ex-NBA player and current TV star Kenny Smith will join Anthony at HoopsFest, NBA championship winner Luc Longley will be at the Under 18 Club Championships while tennis star and South East Melbourne Phoenix part owner Nick Kyrgios will also be in WA.

Superstar DJ Hayden James will be in charge of the music during some games at RAC Arena and will perform for the masses afterwards. One end of RAC Arena will be transformed into a giant BoomBox for HoopsFest.

Recently retired Australian Opals captain Tess Madgen will also fly to WA after leading the nation to a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

Perth Lynx will play pre-season matches as curtain raisers to both the NBL’s grand final replay between Tasmania JackJumpers and Melbourne United at RAC Arena on Thursday and before the Wildcats’ clash with South East Melbourne on Friday.

HoopsFest will also see NBL matches return to Mt Claremont’s HBF Stadium for the first time in more than a decade after a significant upgrade to those facilities.

The public will get access to the biggest names in the sport when they appear at the Fan Zone in Forrest Place during the week. Anthony and Smith will both be at the Fan Zone.

HoopsFest will include a glamorous cocktail party at Crown on Wednesday night to launch the event.

This is the first season of HoopsFest and the NBL has promised to make it a regular event in Perth if big crowds attend matches.