The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced today that six-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist, producer, and songwriter T-Pain will perform at the first NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi, a new event celebrating the convergence of basketball, popular culture and the NBA, on Friday, Oct. 6 at 4:30 p.m. GST at Etihad Arena.
Renowned American singer and member of the iconic boyband Backstreet Boys, AJ McLean, and American actor and producer Michael B. Jordan will participate as special guests.
The NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi also announced that NBA legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ray Allen, Gary Payton, and Tim Hardaway Sr. will attend NBA District, an interactive fan event that will return to Manarat Al Saadiyat from Thursday, Oct. 5 – Sunday, Oct 8. Tickets for the “NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi” are available at etihadarena.ae and ticketmaster.ae, while tickets for the “NBA District” can be purchased at ticketmaster.ae.
NBA Fan Appreciation Day will also feature appearances by Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves players, Abdul-Jabbar and NBA legends Shawn Marion, Sam Perkins, and Kenny Smith. Activities will include a skills challenge and three-point contest featuring Mavericks and Timberwolves players; performances by the Mavericks Entertainment Team, the Timberwolves Dunk Team, and the team mascots; and a slam dunk contest featuring professional dunkers.
At NBA District, fans will be able to meet Abdul-Jabbar, Allen, Payton, and Hardaway Sr.; participate in skill challenges, three-point contests and knockout games on a full-size NBA court; take their photo with the Larry O’Brien Trophy; play the new NBA Fantasy game; purchase limited-edition NBA merchandise, and more.
From Oct. 4-7, the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi will also launch a floating court installation in Yas Bay, which will host a variety of basketball competitions, NBA partner activations, and NBA legend and celebrity appearances over the course of the four days.
The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 presented by ADQ will feature the Mavericks and the Timberwolves playing two preseason games on Thursday Oct. 5 and Saturday Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. GST at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Tickets for the games are on sale at etihadarena.ae and ticketmaster.ae.
Special ticket packages offering premium access, VIP experiences, hospitality and local hotel accommodations are also available for purchase at www.nbaexperiences.com/nba-abu-dhabi-games-2023.
