The teams will play two preseason games as part of the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 this October.
October 2025 means only one thing to basketball fans everywhere: the arrival of the NBA’s 80th season. Together with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the National Basketball Association has just announced that the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 presented by ADQ will feature two truly iconic teams – the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers – playing preseason games on Thursday, 2 and Saturday, 4 October at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
The Knicks currently feature two-time NBA All-Star Jalen Brunson, five-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and 2022 NBA All-Defensive First Team member Mikal Bridges. Bridges and Brunson previously played in Abu Dhabi as members of the USA Basketball (USAB) Men’s National Team prior to the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Towns participated in The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 76ers, meanwhile, currently features 2023 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and seven-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid, nine-time NBA All-Star Paul George and 2024 NBA All-Star Tyrese Maxey. Embiid previously played in the capital as a member of the USAB Men’s National Team prior to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 presented by ADQ will air live in the UAE, across the Middle East and around the world, reaching fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media.
The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 presented by ADQ are part of a multiyear collaboration between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi that features preseason NBA Global Games, youth development programming that has reached nearly 20,000 participants since 2022, interactive fan events featuring appearances by current and former NBA and WNBA players, an NBA 2K League exhibition event, and NBA Cares clinics promoting health and wellness.
“Fans in Abu Dhabi will have the opportunity to see two of the NBA’s historic franchises when the Knicks and 76ers face off in October,” says George Aivazoglou, NBA Managing Director, Europe and Middle East. “We look forward to engaging fans and aspiring players from the local community and across the region for the fourth consecutive year, through our games and surrounding events.” Fans can register their interest in receiving more information by visiting visitabudhabi.ae. Ticket sales information will be announced at a later date, so watch this space.
Discover: NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025. Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. @nba @nbaarabic
