Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar says the huge success of the second edition of the NBA Abu Dhabi Games will have a far-reaching impact on the game across the region.
Abdul-Jabbar was one of several all-time greats who visited the Etihad Stadium in the UAE capital in October to watch the two-game series between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The former Los Angeles Lakers star, whose all-time NBA scoring record was broken by LeBron James in the 2022/23 season, told The National that Abu Dhabi's multi-year deal with the NBA could "have a very serious impact on the team". Middle East Basketball".
"Because the world is now connected through the Internet, this will allow trends in the Middle East to be known in time for when your favorite team is playing," Abdul-Jabbar said. "It's comprehensive.
"I think the interconnectivity will definitely affect fan ratings and help it spread."
Abdul-Jabbar was joined in Abu Dhabi by former Boston Celtics star Ray Allen and Houston Rockets championship-winning point guard Kenny Smith, among others.
Smith, now an award-winning broadcaster, said the global interest has made the NBA better.
"The best players in the world don't all come from the United States," he said.
"[NBA stars] Yannis Adetokounmpo (Greece), Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Joel Embiid (Cameroon), Rudy Gobert. They come from all over the world, all over the world."
With 10,000 boys and girls enrolled in the NBA's schools program in Abu Dhabi, the NBA hopes to find its next star among the top young talent in the Middle East.
Smith said coaches have helped make basketball a truly international sport.
"The global game has changed, especially because of coaches," Smith said. "In the 1990s, coaches started having basketball clinics here and they would come over and teach the game.
"So they were the pioneers of the sport going global. It's not about the players or the Dream Team, it's about the coaches."
The NBA Abu Dhabi Games were a huge success and will have a major impact on the popularity of basketball in the Middle East. The games drew sell-out crowds and were televised to millions of people around the world.
The NBA is committed to growing the sport of basketball in the Middle East, and the NBA Abu Dhabi Games are a key part of that strategy. These games have inspired a new generation of basketball fans in the region and helped create pathways for young players to develop their skills and reach their full potential.
The above is about The《NBA Abu Dhabi Games to raise basketball's profile in the Middle East》, and finally, I would like to recommend you a pair of shoes nike air max 90 terrascape.
