The NBA will host two pre-season games in Abu Dhabi this year. The Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks have traveled to the Middle East and will be looking to put on a show for the Emiratis.
This is the first time the prestigious basketball league will host matches in the United Arab Emirates. Raising the league’s popularity is one of Adam Silver’s main goals, which is one of the reasons the NBA hosts games in the Persian Gulf.
Let’s look at three reasons why the league is hosting pre-season games in Abu Dhabi:
Increase brand awareness
The two pre-season games in Abu Dhabi will have a positive impact on the popularity of the NBA in the United Arab Emirates. Basketball is not popular in the country and most prefer football.
However, bringing the NBA to the UAE is the right decision from a financial point of view. The country’s GDP is one of the highest in the world, which means the league could potentially find new investors in the region.
The late David Stern wanted to make the league a global brand and he did a lot in that regard. Now it’s time for Adam Silver to pick up what the former commissioner left behind and expand the NBA beyond borders.
Travel abroad
The whole world was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The NBA was not immune to the horrible situation and was forced to shut down mid-season.
The season eventually resumed, but teams had to stay in an isolated area better known as the NBA Bubble. Without contact with the outside world, players had to follow strict rules.
For the first time since 2019, the NBA will host global games. The two preseason games will be a good opportunity for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks to popularize the sport outside the United States.
Abu Dhabi Games celebrate international players and diversity
On October 6, Giannis Antetokounmpo will step onto the ground at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The Bucks forward will show fans why he is one of the best basketball players in the world.
Giannis is one of many international players who have had great success in the NBA. Apart from Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic were also born and raised outside the United States.
The NBA’s plan to go global is ideal for celebrating diversity and all of the international players who play in the league.
Edited by Gautam Aggarwal
