The Boston Celtics arrived in Abu Dhabi on October 1st before their two preseason games with the Denver Nuggets on October 4th and October 6th. This is part of the NBA’s attempt to grow the league and the sport globally, giving fans in Abu Dhabi an opportunity to experience NBA basketball. It will also be good for the players on both teams to experience the culture overseas and bond before returning to the United States to finish the preseason.
Boston Celtics in Abu Dhabi
The Boston Celtics flight to Abu Dhabi was 12 hours long and since arriving, the team has been busy. Immediately after the plane ride, Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics coaching staff hosted a basketball clinic with kids in the Jr. NBA. This goes back to the NBA wanting to grow the game globally, as kids in Abu Dhabi got to meet and learn from Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics coaching staff. Mazzulla even signed autographs for the kids before he left.
The Celtics also took a team trip to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on their first full day in Abu Dhabi. A beautiful team photo was taken at the Mosque that goes to show the team bonding and the culture that the players can experience. In the thick of a hectic NBA season, a team is not typically able to partake in activities like this, but this week the Celtics can enjoy their time and experience before the season gets underway.
The Players’ Thoughts
Taylor Snow spoke with multiple Boston Celtics players to gather their thoughts on playing in Abu Dhabi. One player who was particularly excited was Jaylen Brown, who said, “I spent a large portion of my summer in the Middle East, so a lot of friends and family will be attending the game. It’ll be fun to go globalize the game and play on that side of the world, so I look forward to it, but also playing against the former champs, I’m sure it will be exciting to watch.”
As Brown says, it is a fun and exciting trip. Fun to expand the sport globally and spend time with new fans, but also exciting to go against a team like the 2023 NBA champion Denver Nuggets. Joe Mazzulla has not given much indication on the lineups to expect for the preseason games, but Jaylen Brown is excited to play.
Another player who has played in Abu Dhabi before, back in the 2022 preseason, Jrue Holiday, is excited to go back. Holiday said, “It’s fun to immerse yourself in something new, to be a part of something bigger than yourself, and get to know a completely different culture. I think that it builds character. I think it builds for the rest of the season.”
Something to build on in Abu Dhabi, for individual characters and the team, as Holiday points out, would be helpful for the rest of the season. The Boston Celtics are a long way from home, and this time can provide an opportunity for the team to come together and progress toward the NBA season.
Final Thoughts
The Boston Celtics have their first preseason game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, tipping off at 12pm EST. The trip has brought some great opportunities for the Celtics, expanding the NBA globally through clinics, and team bonding by visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. But the biggest factor of the trip is basketball. The first preseason game is sold out and will give a chance to see the 2024 and 2023 NBA Champions go head-to-head. It will also give a chance to see how the Boston Celtics training camp roster is shaping up and what players are pushing to have increased roles in the new season.
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