The Knicks capped their two NBA preseason games in Abu Dhabi with a strong performance, led by OG Anunoby’s 13-point debut, Mitchell Robinson’s dominance on the boards and a confident 14-point performance from Jalen Brunson, which helped secure back-to-back wins.
The atmosphere inside the Etihad Arena was electric, with thousands of fans and celebrities in attendance. Notable attendees included British musician Noel Robinson, Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh, British rapper Central Cee, American actress and singer Victoria Justice, Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody, K-pop idols Chenle and WINWIN, street basketball legend The Professor, UFC heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane and Indian rapper Badshah. Arab talents such as Siilawy, Tul8te, Nour Al Ghandour and Maguy Bou Ghos were also in attendance, contributing to the game’s vibrant atmosphere.
Reflecting on the team’s time in Abu Dhabi, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said: “It was great. There were a couple of things I really wanted to accomplish and I enjoyed it from both a coaching and basketball perspective. We had a really good week of work, and we saw a lot of positives from tonight’s game, including several of the areas we’ve been focused on improving.”
Knicks head coach Mike Brown added of the Abu Dhabi experience: “It was a great trip. We really enjoyed it – the people here were very welcoming and we couldn’t have asked for a better environment to spend time with our families and each other. I thought we got a lot out of the trip. Now we’ll go home, regroup and keep trying to get a little better every day.”
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson said of playing in Abu Dhabi: “Playing here was great. The experience was incredible. Seeing the fans and being able to do what we do on the court and at the same time have fun off the court made it a really special bonding experience for us. I’m happy we were able to come away with a couple of wins.”
The NBA Games in Abu Dhabi continue to draw attention to the emirate as a growing center for world-class sports and entertainment. The event is part of a wider calendar of global events taking place throughout the year in the emirate. This year’s edition has once again attracted fans from around the world, creating a strong sense of community and further establishing Abu Dhabi on the world basketball stage.
