The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Tabcorp (TAB), the official wagering partner of the NBA in Australia, announced “Gary Payton’s Block Party,” a free fan event celebrating basketball and the NBA on Saturday 23 March in Sydney’s Manly Beach.
Headlined by NBA champion and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Gary Payton, the block party presented by TAB will take over Magic’s sports bar at Hotel Steyne on Manly Beach and feature a viewing party to watch the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers at 1:30pm on ESPN, fan meet-and-greets and Q&A sessions with Payton, photo opportunities with the Larry O’Brien Trophy, appearances by local personalities, NBA merchandise giveaways, and more.
“Between the success of Australians in the NBA and the national team’s recent success on the world stage, basketball’s popularity in Australia is at an all-time high,” said Payton. “I look forward to visiting Australia once again and meeting the country’s passionate fans at my block party.”
“At TAB, we are proud of our collaboration with the NBA to grow the sport in Australia,” said Kate Waugh, Head of Sponsorships for TAB. “The TAB App is home to a thriving basketball community, and we can’t wait to bring that community together in person at Gary Payton’s Block Party in celebration of our shared passion for basketball.”
Nicknamed “The Glove” for his defensive prowess, Payton had a storied NBA career spanning 17 seasons, winning an NBA Championship with the Miami Heat in 2006 and being named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1996, to go along with nine NBA All-Star selections and nine NBA All-Defensive First Team selections. Payton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
The 2023-24 NBA season is airing live in Australia on ESPN and NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service available via the NBA App. Fans in Australia can shop for the latest NBA merchandise at NBAStore.com.au, the official online NBA Store in Australia, and at the NBA Stores in Melbourne and Sydney. For more information about the NBA, fans in Australia can visit The Sporting News Australia or download the NBA App.
Gary Payton’s Block Party
Saturday 23 March 2024
Magic’s Sports Bar at Hotel Steyne
75 The Corso, Manly NSW 2095, Australia
10:30am – 4:30pm
