The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) have unveiled the impressive roster of NBA and WNBA legends and celebrities set to grace 'NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi' on Saturday, October 5, at Etihad Arena and 'NBA District' from Thursday, October 3 to Sunday, October 6, at Manarat Al Saadiyat. These engaging fan events are part of the build-up to The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024, which will see the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets, the two most recent NBA champions, compete in preseason games on Friday, October 4, and Sunday, October 6, at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
The star-studded lineup includes seven NBA and WNBA legends – Muggsy Bogues, Marcus Camby, Derek Fisher, Sylvia Fowles, Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O’Neal, and Mitch Richmond – who collectively boast 44 All-Star appearances, 12 championships, and three league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards. Adding to the excitement, Grammy Award-winning rapper 2 Chainz will perform live at both events, including The NBA Night hosted by Shaq at NBA District on October 3.
NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi, kicking off at 4:30 pm on October 5, will be a celebration of the NBA and basketball, featuring a range of fan entertainment activities. These will include skills challenges and three-point contests with Celtics and Nuggets players, appearances by NBA team mascots, a slam dunk contest with professional dunkers, musical performances, and more. NBA District, an interactive fan event that brings together basketball, popular culture, and the NBA, has attracted over 10,000 fans in each of the past two years. It will open to the public at 1 pm on October 3, offering fans the chance to engage in basketball activities on a full-size NBA court, take photos with the Larry O’Brien Trophy, purchase limited-edition and customized NBA merchandise, get a free haircut at the NBA Barbershop, attend panel sessions, and more.
Tickets for NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi are now available for purchase at etihadarena.ae and ticketmaster.ae. Tickets for NBA District can be obtained at ticketmaster.ae.
