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On April 22, Australian fans Sam Boyd, Oscar Boyd and Lachlan Campbell watched the 76ers playoff game against the Nets.
This is a trip you take once or three times in your life.
Lachlan Campbell, 50, Sam Boyd, 49, and Oscar Boyd, 11, all Australian natives, flew to the US in late April for their love of the sport and the possibility of travel Eight playoff games. nation.
They caught up with NBA.com on April 22 at the Sixers-Nets game to discuss their epic journey.
“Why don’t you do that? We love the NBA. We love watching it — we’re just regular basketball supporters,” Campbell said. “It’s fun. It’s fun.”
Their journey began in Denver on April 16, passing through Sacramento, Phoenix, Memphis, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Atlanta. Then they split another playoff game, with Sam and Oscar going to Cleveland, Lachlan going to San Francisco, and then flying home.
Campbell said the schedule was tight. The playoff schedule will be announced on April 13. He and Sam walked back and forth the next day, sitting down with maps and spreadsheets to plan their route across the country.
“Getting good routes, not only good teams, but viable games, that’s quite a bit of planning,” Campbell said.
It’s been a labor of love for Sam, a career lawyer, and Lachlan, a virtual CFO.
Lachlan said he became a fan of the sport in 1989, falling in love with Joe Dumars and the bad boy Pistons. Sam grew up playing basketball, including in clubs, and loved trying to get his hands on NBA tape.
Six years ago, they traveled to the United States to watch a few games together. This time, in the wake of the pandemic, the idea of ​​doing it again came up over coffee. That seemed right – they were excited to bring Sam’s son Oscar and see the experience in a new light.
“The next generation,” Sam said. “The next generation.”
The trip was long — 13-16 hours round trip — but worth it, Lachlan and Sam said.
They recommend that other die-hard fans take a similar trip, in whatever way is affordable for them.
“Experience the city, experience the game, experience the fans,” Sam said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime — well, twice-in-a-lifetime experience. I can’t recommend it enough.”
Lachlan said he and his wife were honeymooning in New York in 2011 and decided at the last minute to buy some Celtics tickets. He said they enjoyed the enthusiasm of the fans and the game.
“Go to a game if you get the chance, spend a little bit of money, go to a game, see these guys in person, see these teams play. The entertainment is unbelievable,” he said.
Lachlan attended Nets games in a Patty Mills jersey — “an Australian icon,” he said.
The panel also called out Australian superstars Joe Ingles, Josh Gidi, Andrew Bogut and Andrew Gates, who averaged 30.9 points per game in 21 seasons in the Australian Basketball League and played for the Washington Bullets and The San Antonio Spurs have played 26 NBA games.
In a few years, Lachlan said they might go again — and he wants to bring his wife and daughter next time.
After returning home, he reflected on his journey, writing to NBA.com about the benefits of his travels halfway around the world.
“It’s a huge investment in terms of money, energy and time, but totally worth it,” he said. “Doing it is worth the challenge, like a marathon, but it’s also worth seeing some of the greatest athletes and entertainment in the world in a sport we love and play. these opportunities.”
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