Sydney will play host to a historic sporting spectacle when the National Basketball League (NBL) brings the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament (PGT) to Australia for the very first time on Sunday, 21 September 2025.
The event, regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious basketball tournaments, will see European giants Panathinaikos B.C. and KK Partizan take on Australia’s best in the Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers, in an unforgettable double header.
The games are expected to attract 14,000 attendees, including a significant number of interstate and international fans. Based on visitor economy benchmarks, each overnight visitor to Sydney spends on average $1,200–$1,500 – meaning the tournament could generate an economic injection of $10-15 million into the Sydney economy.
The NBL is Australia’s fastest-growing sports league, and basketball contributes $400 million annually through participation. The NBL alone had more than 1 million fans attend its games last season.
The PGT presents a unique opportunity for Sydney to strengthen its global sporting reputation, boost the local visitor economy, and inspire grassroots growth in the sport.
Paul Nicolaou, Executive Director of Business Sydney, said: “The NBL bringing the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament to Sydney is a huge win for our city. Economically, it will deliver millions of dollars in visitor spend, supporting our hotels, restaurants, retailers and transport providers while also creating local jobs.
“Just as importantly, this event strengthens Sydney’s social and cultural fabric. It brings people together through a shared love of sport, deepens our ties with European communities, and inspires the next generation of young Australians to embrace basketball on and off the court.”
The PGT is named in honour of the late Panathinaikos owner, Pavlos Giannakopoulos, whose legacy has made it one of Europe’s most fiercely contested pre-season basketball events. Its arrival in Sydney underscores the city’s role as a hub for international sport during Australia’s “green and gold decade” of major events.
