NBA executive and icon Joe Dumars looks forward to “incredible” NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024 presented by ADQ
sport360 spoke with Joe Dumars, NBA Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, to talk about the importance of these games, the NBA’s growing presence in the UAE, and the future of basketball in the region.
Q. What excites you about the NBA’s growing presence in the UAE?
Whenever you go to a new arena to promote the NBA, you’re always interested to see how it goes and what kind of reception you get. The welcome we have received from the UAE, from Abu Dhabi, has been incredible. I’m really looking forward to the excitement of the games. The fans have been phenomenal in the first two years of the Games. It’s a great atmosphere to see so many kids wearing NBA jerseys. It’s been a great experience for the NBA.
Q. This year’s games feature the 2023 champions vs. the 2024 champions. How does it elevate the showcase?
I don’t recall two former champions playing in all the years of the Global Games. It might have happened, I’m not saying it hasn’t happened, but for me too, it’s really exciting to play two past champions. Obviously, these are two elite NBA teams and starting the (pre)season by playing in Abu Dhabi couldn’t be better for them and the fans there. For fans in the UAE, you can’t ask for anything better than this. You have the two past champions with the crowd in Abi Dhabi – I think it’s going to be a special week because it’s not just two games, it’s a whole week of celebration of NBA basketball.
Q. What kind of challenges did you face in bringing the NBA to the UAE compared to other international markets?
There was never any challenge there, it will be interesting for the NBA to see how it goes. Since we started coming to Abu Dhabi, there have not really been any challenges. Players love it. All the teams I’ve talked to before – Atlanta, Milwaukee, Dallas, Minnesota – every player has loved it. People get there and they look around and they start to experience Abu Dhabi and they absolutely love it. Once we realized how incredible it was, you won’t have any complaints from anyone.
Q. What are the NBA’s future plans in the region for the next five-10 years?
Just keep growing the game, I guess. We want to reach as many people as possible, especially children. We want to touch them, inspire them and introduce them to this great game, these amazing players. The goal is to continue to grow attendance, make sure people feel like they have access to the NBA, continue to play these games where people can come out and see these incredible players in person, League Pass and Provide access to people on different platforms so they can actually watch the game and follow the game.
Q. Regular season MVP Nikola Jokic will face the reigning Finals MVP in Jaylen Brown at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Games. What do you think of that matchup?
That’s a great thing about regular season MVP and Finals MVP. Plus, let’s add Olympians, NBA champions, All-Stars, future Hall of Famers to the teams. The biographies of people, current players and even some former players, who are going to be ambassadors for the game… so I’m excited about that. You have Jokic, you have Jaylen Brown but you have Olympians like Jamal Murray and all the guys on Team USA from Boston. I think it’s incredible. This is what people are going to see in Abu Dhabi.
Q. Why is the fight between the two former champions so special as a contest?
When you have two champions on the court, I look forward to it because a champion has a different mentality and these are the last two. So I’m just looking forward to seeing both of them play with each other. I saw him play during the last season. Denver went to Boston and I went to Boston to watch the game and it was an incredible game. I think it was a two-point game by the end and I just remember watching them play and going – neither of these teams wanted to give an inch. So I am looking forward to the two previous champions playing together in such a game.
Q. What can we expect from the NBA in terms of the growth of the game in the UAE in the coming years?
We’re trying to reach as many boys and girls as possible to introduce them to the game, whether it’s NBA basketball schools, WNBA, Jr. NBA, Jr. WNBA, all these programs to reach as many kids as possible. Are. , We believe basketball is something that brings people together. We believe that this helps the youth to move forward. So you will see us investing in these areas where we can reach as many children as possible through as many programs as possible.
,
The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024 promises to be a spectacular showcase of elite basketball talent and global sporting culture. With two elite teams, world-class athletes and a host of exciting events, basketball fans in the UAE will be in for a treat.
Definitely don’t miss having an unforgettable week in Abu Dhabi.