A new major grassroots & talent pathway partnership opportunity has emerged in Australia
The emergence of a new high-profile Asia-Pacific high school basketball tournament
Today’s newsletter is presented by the NBA Rising Stars Invitational Australia Qualifiers
A new opportunity for brands to back elite youth basketball talent and connect with Australia’s pathway to the NBA
The NBA Rising Stars Invitational Australia Qualifier will bring together Australia’s top high school basketball talent at the State Basketball Centre in Melbourne from 8–10 May 2026, with 16 elite boys’ and girls’ teams competing for a place at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore.
Brought to you by NBA Basketball School Australia and promoted by Basketball Magic Pty Ltd, the event marks a major step forward for elite and grassroots youth basketball in Australia. With broadcast and live streaming, NBA digital amplification, and direct connection to a basketball ecosystem spanning players, families, schools and a wider community of more than 1.3 million registered participants nationally, the event offers brands a rare opportunity to align with one of sport’s most powerful cultural platforms.
A limited number of partnership opportunities are now available across various sponsorship tiers.
A new major grassroots partnership opportunity has emerged in Australia
Sport has become one of the most powerful platforms in modern marketing, not just because of its scale, but because of its ability to connect.
Many of Australia’s biggest companies have grassroots-themed sports partnerships
From junior participation programs and community club initiatives to full talent-pathway sponsorships, brands such as Telstra, Woolworths, Coles, NAB, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, Bunnings, McDonald’s and Toyota are all investing heavily in the grassroots level of sport.
Why? Because grassroots sport offers something few channels can: direct, sustained access to families, young participants, volunteers and local communities. It’s not just reach, it’s proximity and credibility. Brands aren’t just seen, they’re experienced.
That’s what makes grassroots sports such a powerful lever for brand and reputation building. It enables organisations to demonstrate genuine, tangible support at a community level, something that resonates far more deeply than traditional advertising.
Related: Why brands invest in sports from grassroots to the elite level
A new major new grassroots & talent pathway sports partnership opportunity has emerged in Australia
As the world’s sports marketplace becomes more fragmented, globalised and competitive, disruption of the traditional sports landscape is taking place.
Australian sports organisations such as the Australian Open and the NRL are exporting themselves, and America’s biggest leagues such as the NHL and NFL are planting flags here.
Related: How international forces are shaping sport in Australia
The common theme among the above sports expansion plans? Grassroots engagement and talent development pathways have underpinned their international growth strategies.
Introducing the NBA Rising Stars Invitational Australia Qualifiers
As part of this new trend, a new major opportunity for brands to connect with grassroots basketball and elite talent pathways simultaneously is the NBA Rising Stars Invitational Australia Qualifiers – a high-school basketball tournament that will determine the boys’ and girls’ teams that will represent Australia in the second annual NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore this June – connected to the NBA Basketball School network.
The event is quickly positioning itself as a major youth development platform in the region, bringing together top boys’ and girls’ teams from across the Asia-Pacific.
For Australian brands, it represents a rare opportunity to align with the NBA at the grassroots level while engaging the next generation of basketball talent, fans and families.
Why does the NBA Rising Stars Invitational present as a unique and attractive property for brands?
1. Basketball is experiencing unprecedented growth in Australia
Key stakeholders across the sport, including the NBA, NBL, WNBL, national and state bodies, and community leagues, are all playing key roles in driving this momentum.
AusPlay, an annual national survey conducted by the Australian Sports Commission shows that:
1.3+ million Australians are actively playing basketball
Basketball is the 2nd most popular team sport in Australia, and the most popular team sport (alongside soccer) for 15 to 24-year-olds
The Hungry Jack’s NBL26 regular season delivered record results across attendance, broadcast and digital - more here
2. NBA brand power
The NBA’s boasts a robust portfolio of digital assets including NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass - and has cultivated one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.5 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms
As one of the biggest League’s in the world, it boasts:
2.5+ billion social media followers global
214 countries and territories reached
1.5+ billion video views annually on NBA digital
440+ million fans across Asia-Pacific
The NBA’s partnership proposition for brands:
Brand Association: It’s one of the world’s most culturally influential sports leagues
Cultural Currency: NBA transcends sport into music, fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment
Asia-Pacific Gateway: The NBA Rising Stars Invitational connects Australian brands to the NBA’s fastest-growing region
Content Engine: Access NBA’s world-class storytelling and content production
3. NBA strength in Australia
Australia is one of the NBA’s most passionate markets, with strong engagement across key areas.
Australian NBA Talent: Australia is the third most-represented country outside the U.S. with a record-tying 13 players from Australia on opening-night rosters for the 2025-26 NBA season.
NBA League Pass: Outside of the US, Australia is the NBA’s largest market for subscribers on NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service.
Merchandise: Australians are among the world’s biggest buyers of official NBA merchandise, turning apparel into a walking advertisement for the league.
Related: NBA apparel doubles as advertising in Australia
The NBA is experiencing unprecedented momentum in Australia as it continues to build its presence in this market. Last October, the New Orleans Pelicans played two preseason games against NBL teams in Melbourne, which marked the first NBA games in Australia.
It has also just announced that NBA House, one of the league’s signature fan events, will debut in Australia at The Timber Yard in Melbourne from Thursday, 14 May to Sunday, 17 May. This immersive basketball experience will feature more than 6,000 square metres of interactive basketball and pop culture experiences for fans of all ages.
4. Youth Participation – sport is more important than ever
For youth participants, the benefits of playing sport are significant.
Sport helps build physical health, confidence, friendships and life skills. It creates social connections, supports mental wellbeing and strengthens community identity.
In an increasingly digital and disconnected world, grassroots sport remains one of the few places where communities regularly come together.
Grassroots sport remains one of the most powerful platforms in sponsorship
The continued investment from brands across participation programs, community initiatives and elite talent pathways highlights just how valuable grassroots sport remains in Australia.
For companies, it provides something increasingly difficult to achieve through traditional marketing channels - genuine community connection.
Want to know more about the NBA Rising Stars Invitational Australian Qualifiers?
A limited number of partnership opportunities are now available across various sponsorship tiers.
adidas - Manager, Field Key Accounts
adidas - Manager, Store Development - Pacific (12 Month Contract)
Australian Grand Prix Corporation - Commercial Partnerships Manager
Basketball Victoria - Media & Communications Specialist
Bastion - Strategy Manager
Bowls Australia - Commercial & Licensing Executive
Bowls Australia - Commercial Partnerships Manager
Brand Collective - Marketing Coordinator - Champion & Reebok
Brand Collective - Marketing Specialist - Reebok
Brisbane Lions - Content Operations Manager
Brisbane Lions - Video Lead
Brisbane Racing Club - Digital Marketing Manager
Bursty - Account Manager
Collingwood FC - Community Programs and Partnerships Manager
Courtside Melbourne - Head of Retail
Courtside Melbourne - Social Media Coordinator
Cricket Australia - Digital Partnerships Lead
Edith Cowan University - Lecturer/Senior Lecturer - Sport Business
Entain Australia & New Zealand - Account Manager
Essendon FC - Functions & Marketing Manager
EssilorLuxottica - Brand Partnerships & Activation Manager
Fanatics - Head of Operations (AUS/NZ)
Foot Locker - Digital Merchandising/ Ecommerce Coordinator
Fremantle Dockers - Media & PR Coordinator
Gold Coast SUNS - Events Coordinator
Grill’d - Partnerships Manager
St Kilda FC - Head of Corporate Communications
INTERSPORT - Marketing Manager
JD Sports - Paid Media Manager
JD Sports - Senior Affiliates Manager
Live Nation - Marketing Associate - Rugby World Cup (Fixed Term)
LSKD - E-Commerce Manager
LSKD - Head of Marketing
Melbourne FC - Event Manager
Melbourne Park - Client Relationship Manager – Live Events
Melbourne Park - Event Leader - CENTREPIECE
Melbourne Park - Senior Event Manager - Australian Open
Melbourne Racing Club - Design Manager
Mizuno - Brand Manager
Mizuno - Digital Marketing Specialist
Netball NSW - Consumer Business Manager - Maternity Leave Cover
Nike - Director of Stores, Pacific
Peloton - Sales Manager, Consumer
Pixellot - Regional Commercial Partnerships Manager
PUMA - Area Manager - Multi State
PUMA - Key Account Manager - COBRA
PUMA - Senior Key Account Manager - Strategic Accounts Style
Queensland Touch Football - Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Rip Curl - General Manager, Retail
Sportsbet - Paid Search & Performance Specialist (SEM) - 12 month FTC
Sportsbet - TikTok Content Director
Sports Direct - eCommerce Specialist
Sports Entertainment Network - AFL Record Supervisor
Sports Entertainment Network - Commercial Manager
Sports Entertainment Network - Commercial Manager - Tasmania
Sports Entertainment Network - Fan Engagement Officer
Sports Entertainment Network - Head of Commercial
Sports Entertainment Network - Strategy & Solutions Manager
Stan. - Sport Marketing Executive
Supercars - Digital Executive
Tabcorp - Communications Advisor
Tabcorp - Communications Executive
Tabcorp - General Manager Commercial - Wagering
Tabcorp - Video Content Producer
TGI Sport - Account Director (Communications)
TGI Sport - Head of Communications
Victoria Racing Club - Corporate Sales Coordinator
Victoria Racing Club - Customer Relationship Management Analyst
Volleyball Victoria - Events and Marketing Coordinator
Western Bulldogs - Business Development Manager
Western Bulldogs - Events Manager
Western Bulldogs - Senior Consumer Sales Manager
WPP Media - Sports & Entertainment Partnerships Manager
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