LEBRON James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade are among the locked-out NBA stars who could play two matches in Australia as part of a world tour.

ESPN reports on its website that are in the works for groups of NBA superstars to play between October 30 and November 9 in London, Macau, Australia and Puerto Rico.

Two games would be played in Australia and all games would be played in venues of at least 15,000 seats.

The matches would be played during what would have been the first two weeks of the season.

NBA club owners locked out players on July 1 in a dispute over how to divide $4.2 billion in annual revenues.

Talks are ongoing to solve the shutdown, now in its 111th day, and a new deal would scuttle the global barnstorming tour.

But the NBA has already wiped out the first two weeks of the 2011-2012 season - 100 games between November 1-14 - opening the door for the tour by players left with nothing to do.

Many NBA players have signed deals with European or Asian clubs to ensure they would not lose a season of their careers in case the NBA lockout wipes out the entire North American pro season.

Among the others who reportedly could be involved are Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Carlos Boozer, Rajon Rondo, Blake Griffin and Russell Westbrook with Kevin Durant and Kevin Garnett among thiose considering the tour.

Atlanta businessman Calvin Darden has worked with player agents for almost three months to organise the tour, ESPN reported, saying contracts have been signed by Bryant, Wade, Bosh, Griffin, Rondo and Pierce.

Insurance for possible injuries and other details were expected to be settled within days with television deals likely for the games and payments to players ranging from $100,000 to $1 million, some of it going to charity.

While some exhibitions have been staged on a small scale at US gyms, this would be the first all-elite showcase of its kind and take the game's stars around the world.