Melbourne United will face off with Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers in one of two marquee NBA preseason games later this year.

The reigning NBL champions will play the Sixers in Philadelphia and leading Eastern conference side Toronto Raptors in Toronto in two of the NBL’s seven preseason games in late September and early October.

Simmons played against Melbourne United in Melbourne in 2015 while a college basketballer at Louisiana State University and spent part of his childhood and teenage years this city playing a pivotal role in leading Vic Metro to the under-16 national championship before heading to the US.

The 21-year-old is already one of Australia’s most marketable sporting figures, arguably the biggest, and his shoe company had a digital billboard outside Flinders Street Station on Tuesday night celebrating his rookie of the year award.