It was a regular Monday night at Frankston Basketball Stadium — until an unexpected NBA star walked onto the court.
Australian NBA player Josh Giddey, currently with the Chicago Bulls, shocked local players and fans when he suited up for the Vales in a division-three social league game in Melbourne’s south-east suburb.
Jesse Lans, a player for the opposing team Benny’s Boys, said the moment Giddey appeared, the atmosphere shifted.
“We just started warming up and one of our guys was like, ‘Look who’s in the stands,’” Lans told ABC Melbourne. “We were like, ‘Oh no, this game’s not going to go our way.’”
The 21-year-old Giddey is more familiar with massive NBA arenas like the United Center in Chicago, but on this night, he was playing under the lights in Frankston. Word of his appearance quickly spread.
“There was definitely a crowd there growing,” Lans said. “One of the other games got cancelled and everyone came over.”
Despite his nerves — and concern about accidentally injuring Giddey during the NBA offseason — Lans ended up scoring 41 points. Giddey, who averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists during the 2024–25 season, was dominant but couldn’t carry his team to victory.
“To be honest, I stood absolutely no chance,” Lans admitted. “He was much taller than you expect of someone at the point guard position. It was just another level.”
Benny’s Boys defeated Giddey’s Vales 110–84.
After the game, Giddey took photos with players, referees, and fans, adding to the surreal experience for everyone involved.
The viral moment is sure to be a lasting memory for Frankston’s local basketball community — and proof that even NBA stars can drop into a suburban game for some fun.
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