Basketball legends and celebrities to headline NBA Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI: The US National Basketball Association and the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi have announced that six-time Grammy Award-winning artist, producer and songwriter T-Pain will perform at the first NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi on Friday, Oct. 6 at Etihad Arena.

American singer and Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean and actor and producer Michael B. Jordan will also 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. 5-8.

NBA Fan Appreciation Day will also feature appearances by players from the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves, 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. as well as participate in skill challenges, three-point contests and knockout games on a full-size NBA court.

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 Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.