ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The NBA has scheduled its return to the Persian Gulf for the upcoming season.
Next October, New York and Philadelphia teams will engage in preseason matches set for October 2 and 4 in Abu Dhabi, as announced by the league on Thursday. This marks the fourth year in a row that NBA preseason games take place in Abu Dhabi, following an agreement with tourism authorities made in 2021.
In recent years, various teams have traveled there for the preseason: Milwaukee and Atlanta went in 2022, Dallas and Minnesota in 2023, and Boston along with Denver began their 2024 preseason in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, USA Basketball conducted games in the city before heading to the 2023 Basketball World Cup in the Philippines and in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This year, Abu Dhabi is among the three announced international preseason venues for the NBA season, alongside planned visits to China and Australia. The league is eyeing a return to China for the first time in six years.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans team is set to visit Melbourne, Australia, for games against local teams, Melbourne United on October 3 and South East Melbourne Phoenix on October 5. These matches will represent the first-ever games played by an NBA team in Australia.
In China, Brooklyn and Phoenix are scheduled to compete in Macao, a known gambling destination, on October 10 and October 12. This event will signify the NBA’s re-engagement with Chinese fans after a significant hiatus.