NBA: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Other Legends Speak on Impact of Abu Dhabi Games to the Middle East
By Jeremiah Santos
(Photo : RYAN LIM/AFP via Getty Images) TOPSHOT - American former professional basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar greets the crowd during the NBA Preseason game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 7, 2023.
NBA icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games, featuring a matchup pair between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks.
The former NBA all-time leading scorer of the two games at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island on Thursday, October 5, and Saturday, October 7.
"The way that the world is connected now, through the internet, is going to make it possible for trends here in the Middle East to tune in when your favorite team plays. And that goes across the board," the six-time NBA Most Valuable Player said.
On the other hand, former Houston Rockets point guard Kenny Smith attributed the increased level of play from countries outside the United States to coaching.
"The coaches when they started back in the 90s, they were doing basketball clinics over here and they would come over and teach the game," the player-turned-TV analyst mentioned.
Smith added that not all the best basketball players in the world come from America, using Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Rudy Gobert as prime examples.
Meanwhile, Minnesota in both games hosted in the oil-rich country, claiming a 111-99 win on Thursday and following up with a 104-96 victory on Saturday.
