Can Chris Goulding's side upset Ben Simmons and NBA giants?

MELBOURNE United are kicking off the NBL's tour of the USA and the NBA in their mouth-watering clash against Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers. Here's what you need to know.

Melbourne United have landed in the US and the team’s star import Casper Ware can’t wait to take on Ben Simmons’ Philadelphia 76ers.

Ware is no stranger to the 76ers.

The 28-year-old Los Angeles-born guard was a member of the 76ers during the NBA team’s horror 2013-14 season when Brett Brown’s squad won just 19 games, lost 63 and included a 26-game losing streak

Despite the dark days Ware experienced in Philadelphia he is keen for another shot at the NBA and knows a strong performance on Friday (Saturday 9am AEST) for Melbourne against the 76ers at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Centre might generate a contract offer.

“That’s always the goal,” Ware told NBC after United attempted to shake off the jet-lag on Wednesday with a training session at Temple University. “I’m a guy that says I’ll never give up.

“My goal is to make it to the NBA and play at the top level. “I’m at Melbourne, but I’m still looking forward to trying to get back to the NBA.” It was Ware and United who proved NBL teams could compete with billion- dollar NBA franchises, with Ware going head-to-head in a point guard battle last year with NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook’s Oklahoma City Thunder just held on for a nail-biting 86-85 win. The Melbourne-Philadelphia clash is the first game of the NBA pre-season and kicks off a busy schedule for the NBL and NBA teams.

Speaking ahead of the 76ers clash, Goulding said there was a buzz about the group as they look to build on an incredible 2017.

"We're looking OK," he said on SEN.

"Winning the championship last year - it's hard to compare against. We don't want to get stuck in saying what we did last year. It's been an interesting pre-season and tomorrow night will be a good test.

"We can go play our brand, have some fun, let the chains off and you never know what can happen."

Asked if there was much interaction with the 76ers - specifically their Australian contingent, Gould said: "I speak to Jonah every now and then, we have the same agent.

"Our coaching staff will meet with 76ers coaching staff but as far as the players go, unless there is a personal relationship there, there isn't too much hanging out.

"I will be asking them for where to watch the Grand Final. We will get together as a group and watch, a lot of the guys are AFL supporters and some of the Collingwood."

When it comes to playing one of the best sides on their home ground, Goulding said the thought of NBA recruiters being there to watch was always in the back of his mind, but the priority is to win.

"You never give up hope or on a dream (of playing NBA) but that's not really the plan. You never know what can happen but the plan is to upset one of the best teams in the world. We will see what happens."

The other NBL/NBA clashes are: the Perth Wildcats face the Joel Ingles-Dante Exum’s Utah Jazz; Andrew Bogut returns to the NBA with his Sydney Kings playing the Los Angeles Clippers in Hawaii; the Phoenix Suns host the New Zealand Breakers; Melbourne moves north to play the Toronto Raptors; the Perth take on the Denver Nuggets; and the Adelaide 36ers face the Jazz.