The Mavericks will expand their global reach next season with two preseason games in Abu Dhabi against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Etihad Arena on Yas Island will be the venue for the games Oct. 5 and Oct. 7, the NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi announced Tuesday morning.
It will be the second season in a row that the NBA has staged games in Abu Dhabi after Atlanta and Milwaukee played there in 2022 in a pair of preseason games.
Yas Island is primarily an entertainment and resort area that is a major tourism area on the Persian Gulf, about 90 miles southwest of Dubai. Etihad Arena has an 18,000-seat capacity.
“The Dallas Mavericks certainly recognize the importance of globalizing the game of basketball,” CEO Cynt Marshall said in the NBA’s news release. “For many years, we have enjoyed international players and a growing international fanbase.
“We are honored to play the game we love for NBA fans in Abu Dhabi and around the world. We appreciate all who have worked so hard to create this exciting opportunity for our team and our fans.”
Tickets for the Abu Dhabi games will go on sale at a later date. Fans can register to receive more information at NBA.com/AbuDhabi.
The games will feature an assortment of international players headlined by Luka Dončić, the Mavericks’ superstar point guard. The Mavericks also have a handful of other players who are multi-lingual, such as Maxi Kleber, Davis Bertans and Frank Ntilikina. The Minnesota Timberwolves have France’s Rudy Gobert.
The Mavericks last played overseas when they had two preseason games in China against the Philadelphia 76ers in 2018, Dirk Nowitzki’s final season and the rookie year for Dončić.
They also played a regular season game in Mexico City on Dec. 12, 2019, against the Detroit Pistons.
The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 will air live in the United Arab Emirates and across the Middle East and North Africa on beIn Sports, the Sports Channel and NBA League Pass, reaching fans in more than 200 countries and territories on various platforms.
The games are part of a multiyear collaboration between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi. In January, the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi launched an expanded second season of the Junior NBA Abu Dhabi League, featuring boys and girls leages for players ages 11-14.
“We are excited to be preparing for the new season of the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023,” said H.E. Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, director general for tourism at DPT Abu Dhabi. “We look forward to welcoming the players, teams and fans to experience the destination and strengthening our efforts to bring the very best in sporting entertainment and engagement across Abu Dhabi.”
Twitter: @ESefko
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