BY: RECHELLE TUARES – SPORTS ON AIR CORRESPONDENT
CEBU CITY — Basketball fans, mark your calendars!
The much-anticipated NBA Abu Dhabi Games are just around the corner, a mammoth event featuring two of the league’s elite teams — the 2023 NBA champion Denver Nuggets and the reigning and defending champions Boston Celtics.
The pair of pre-season games will take place on October 4 and 6 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
The Celtics duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are expected to spearhaead Boston, which won its 17th title last June by beating the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, 4-1.
Denver, on the other hand, will parade Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray. The Michael Malone-coached Denver were seeking a back-to-back championship run this year before losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a thrilling, action=packed Western Conference semifinals.
The NBA Abu Dhabi Games also feature a variety of fan-centric activities are planned around the games, including basketball clinics for young players, interactive fan zones, and opportunities to meet NBA legends at the “NBA District”.
In addition to the on-court basketball activities, cultural performances that highlight the rich heritage of Abu Dhabi will also be highlighted.
This upcoming venture is part of the league’s multi-year partnership with Abu Dhabi to host games. The Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks were the first teams to play in Abu Dhabi in 2022. It was followed up by the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2023.
