| Prefer us on Google — see Tips.gg in Top Stories & Discover | Add on Google |
The NBA has pulled the plug on its preseason games in the Middle East this year, citing ongoing regional tensions as the reason for the cancellation.
The league had been in discussions with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, and Washington Wizards to play exhibition games in Abu Dhabi and Qatar. The cancellation is limited to this year’s slate; the NBA has confirmed it intends to return to the region under existing agreements with Abu Dhabi.
The league has staged preseason games in the Middle East for the past five years. Its partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism remains intact, underscored by a recent extension of their agreement. Beyond game scheduling, the NBA and Abu Dhabi are working together to launch a global academy in the UAE capital, designed to identify and develop top young players from the region and beyond.
The decision lands against a backdrop of measurable growth for the sport in the area. Basketball participation in the UAE has risen by 60% since the NBA launched its annual preseason trips in 2022, per Fox 8. That figure reflects the league’s sustained investment in the market, and officials remain committed to expanding basketball’s reach and engagement in the region through the Abu Dhabi collaboration.
Read also: Magic Johnson Names Knicks His NBA Finals Favorite and Raises Two Red Flags for LeBron’s 76ers
Stay with TipsGG for continued coverage of NBA news and international basketball development.