Adelaide 36ers

The Adelaide 36ers have become the first Australian team ever to beat an NBA opponent after stunning the P...

Star big man Deandre Ayton has also been left less than impressed after being lowballed by the team in contract talks last season. Adelaide built the first-half lead to as many as 16 by hitting 10 of its first 17 three-pointers. Last season, the NBL's cap ceiling was set at just over $1.6 million. Franks was 11-of-20 overall and six-of-10 from three-point range, part of the 36ers connecting on 24-of-43 from long distance. READ MORE: [Edwards the star as Panthers demolish Eels in grand final](https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/grand-final-2022-penrith-panthers-v-parramatta-result-dylan-edwards-clive-churchill-medal/8bcc5d24-c0ba-4522-b06b-0ccde111ef22) [Chris Paul](https://wwos.nine.com.au/chris-paul) had 12 assists for the Suns, while Mitch McCarron had 16 assists for Adelaide. [Adelaide 36ers](https://wwos.nine.com.au/adelaide-36ers) have created Australian basketball history, becoming the first NBL team to beat an [NBA](https://wwos.nine.com.au/basketball/nba) opponent after stunning the [Phoenix Suns](https://wwos.nine.com.au/basketball/phoenix-suns) in a pre-season clash.

The Phoenix Suns lost their preseason opener to a hot-shooting Adelaide 36ers team from Australia's National Basketball League 134-124 on Sunday night.

[Chris Paul](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2779/chris-paul) had 12 assists for the Suns, while [Mitch McCarron](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3081077/mitch-mccarron) had 16 assists for Adelaide. [Devin Booker](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3136193/devin-booker) had 13 points. "Once they made a few [3s] in the first quarter, I didn't think we had awareness that these guys would keep making shots." Adelaide built the first-half lead to as many as 16 by hitting 10 of its first 17 3-pointers. Current Mavs superstar [Luka Doncic](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3945274/luka-doncic) played on that Real Madrid team, scoring 3 points in his squad's 142-137 overtime victory against OKC. "Just didn't give them the respect that they deserve as a pro team," Suns coach Monty Williams said.

There was a particular group of people who weren't entirely shocked to see the Adelaide 36ers beat the Phoenix Suns in a preseason matchup on Monday: those ...

When we talk about the gap getting narrower, it encompasses everything from the talent level of the Americans choosing to play in the NBL, to the level of coaching and development available outside of the U.S. Craig Randall II led the scoring effort for the 36ers, scoring 35 points -- including nine three-pointers -- and was up there with [Mitch McCarron](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3081077/mitch-mccarron) as the two best guards on a floor that featured [Chris Paul](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2779/chris-paul) and [Devin Booker](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3136193/devin-booker). It used to be that the NBL was a drawcard for the elite Americans playing outside the NBA because Australia is an English-speaking country, it has beaches, and players get paid on time. [Robert Franks](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3922235/robert-franks), for example, had all the signs of an import we usually see play a season in the NBL and then chase more money in Europe. When it comes to climbing the basketball ladder to the NBA, the NBL is proving itself to be the final step. Some NBL teams didn't even send executives to the Blitz because of how much of a hassle it was to get out to the Northern Territory.

The Adelaide 36ers have made history, becoming the first NBL team to claim a win against an NBA side as they took down the Phoenix Suns by 10 points.

The Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League beat the Phoenix Suns 134-124 in their pre-season opener.

Phoenix, playing in their first game since their 2022 playoff exit, had their regular starter Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Miles Bridges, Cam Johnson and DeAndre ...

There was a particular group of people who weren't entirely shocked to see the Adelaide 36ers beat the Phoenix Suns in a preseason matchup on Monday: those ...