Aussie fans get refunds after ads for Team USA games showed LeBron, Steph
Some fans demanded and received refunds after LeBron James and Stephen Curry, among other stars, weren't on Team USA for its set of exhibition games in Australia this week, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Promotional materials for the games in Melbourne and Sydney originally featured James and Curry. They were both in the U.S. player pool when the agreement on the games was completed in 2018, according to The Associated Press' Justin Bergman. Both removed themselves from consideration earlier this year.
James Harden, DeMarcus Cousins, and Kevin Durant were also included in a video from August 2018 advertising the two-game set against Australia.
🎫Get early access to Boomers v USA Basketball tickets! If you have a VISA card, you'll get 48 hour presale access to see the greatest names in basketball history at @EtihadStadiumAU, Melbourne starting Weds 10am, 22 Aug! https://t.co/Gvx8tp4r1X #BoomersvUSA #visitmelbourne pic.twitter.com/ZXEZ17ercA
— TEG Live (@TEG_Live) August 14, 2018
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched an investigation into the matter after receiving complaints, according to ABC. Fans also launched a petition on Change.org that drew more than 2,700 signatures.
In a statement, the ACCC said it was "aware of refunds being made to consumers for the USA Basketball games ... in Melbourne and Sydney on 22, 24, and 26 August." The U.S. lost Thursday's game to the Boomers, plays Australia again Saturday, and then faces Canada on Monday.
A number of players have withdrawn from Team USA ahead of the FIBA World Cup, Sacramento Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox being the latest.