The league has held preseason games in the United Arab Emirates for three years. It says its impact has been positive, but others say it’s helping a repressive regime.
Tania Ganguli
Hilary Swift
Jaylen Brown, the Boston Celtics star, grabbed the microphone, ready to delight the crowd 6,600 miles from home.
“As-salaam alaikum, Abu Dhabi!” he said energetically, offering a common greeting in the region.
The crowd cheered. Brown, who grew up in Georgia, introduced himself and thanked the crowd in Arabic to more cheers.
“I’ve been working on my Arabic,” he said later.
It was a festive beginning on Friday to the N.B.A.’s third annual trip to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, for preseason games. This time the league sent its past two champions, the Celtics and the Denver Nuggets, along with the championship trophy and several former N.B.A. players, including the Celtics great Kevin Garnett.
Abu Dhabi has become the N.B.A.’s hub in the Middle East. The players visited cultural sites, league and team personnel met with business partners, and the league showcased the work it has done with children, especially girls, in the region. Abu Dhabi in turn presented its modernization, luxury resorts, low crime rates and commitment to religious tolerance — a message prominently displayed at its cultural sites.
