NBA clash set for 5 and 7 October at Etihad Arena on Yas Island
Basketball fanatics are in for a colossal treat as two of the hottest teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) are set to descend on Abu Dhabi for a monumental showdown.
It will be the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ turn to entertain fans in the UAE capital this October following the exciting clash between the Atlanta Hawks and 2021 NBA champions Milwaukee Bucks last year.
Dallas and Minnesota will play two preseason games in The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island on 5 and 7 October. Tickets will go on sale on a later date.
“We are honoured 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,” said Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall.
Bannered by the high-scoring duo of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, arguably two of the most crowd-pleasing basketball players on the planet, the 2011 champions Mavericks boast one of the most lethal offensive weapons in basketball.
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To counter the Mavs’ deadly offence, the Timberwolves will bank on its pair of seven-footers in Karl-Anthony Towns and three-time NBA All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, along with 2023 NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards.
“As the NBA continues its global expansion, the Minnesota Timberwolves are honoured to be selected for The NBA Abu Dhabi Games. Thank you to the NBA and the host city of Abu Dhabi for allowing us the opportunity to bring fans together through the game of basketball,” said Minnesota Timberwolves CEO Ethan Casson.
Basketball enthusiasts can also expect interactive fan events featuring appearances by current and former NBA players, a series of NBA FIT clinics promoting health and wellness, and an NBA 2K League exhibition event.
The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 are part of a multiyear collaboration between the NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), which last year saw the Hawks and Bucks play the league’s first games in the Arabian Gulf.
The collaboration also included an expanded second season of the Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League this year, which saw NBA icon Allen Iverson and WNBA legend Lisa Leslie visit the UAE capital.
“We are excited to be preparing for the new season of The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 with the thrilling preseason head-to-head games between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves,” said Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi.
Date
5 and 7 October
Location
Etihad Arena, Yas Island
For more information and register your interest for tickets, visit NBA.com/AbuDhabi
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