Shaquille O’Neal: 'NBA coming to Abu Dhabi will be great for the sport of basketball'

Shaquille O’Neal says the chance to see the likes of Trae Young and Giannis Antetokounmpo in action will help spark the interest of a new generation of basketball fans in the UAE.

The four-time NBA champion will visit the UAE in his role as ambassador for the 2022 NBA Abu Dhabi Games, which sees the Atlanta Hawks take on the 2021 NBA champions Milwaukee Bucks in two pre-season games on October 6 and 8 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

The Hawks boast two-time NBA All-Star Trae Young while the Bucks can call on two-time NBA MVP Antetokounmpo for next week's matches.

Power forward Antetokounmpo was born in Athens to Nigerian parents and is widely known as the "Greek Freak" for his size, speed, strength, and ball-handling skills,

Former Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers centre O’Neal believes the chance to see one of the league's overseas stars up close and personal can inspire youngsters to follow their own dreams of playing in the NBA.

“NBA coming to Abu Dhabi will be great for the sport of basketball. This league is truly global and some of the best players in the world are already coming from outside the United States,” O’Neal said while commenting on the impact of NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022, which is part of a multiyear partnership between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi.

“Bringing players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Trae Young overseas, for local kids to see up close, will only spark their interest in the sport. This will certainly help nurture a generation of future talent with more countries playing the sport."

Ralph Rivera, managing director of NBA Europe and Middle East (centre left) and Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, director general for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi during the press conference of NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 at