Image: Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images
Former NBA forward Rudy Gay, a 17-season veteran and two-time FIBA World Cup gold medallist, is in Abu Dhabi this week to appear at the NBA District during the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025.
Gay will meet fans ahead of the New York Knicks’ pre-season game against the Philadelphia 76ers, scheduled for 8pm on October 2 at Etihad Arena.
The NBA District, part of the league’s international expansion efforts, is the first fan experience of its kind in the Middle East.
The interactive venue features player meet-and-greets, basketball skill challenges, live game screenings, and entertainment for fans of all ages.
The event coincides with two preseason games, with the Knicks and 76ers returning to Etihad Arena on October 4 for a second matchup.
In an interview held earlier this week with Gulf Business editor, Neesha Salian, Gay reflected on his career, the globalisation of basketball, and the significance of the sport reaching emerging markets in the Middle East.
On basketball’s expansion in the Middle East
“Basketball is a game I’ve loved my whole life, and to see it grow and expand to areas that aren’t usually big basketball markets means a lot. It also means a lot for fans of the game across the world.
“You have guys like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and in my era, Carmelo Anthony, who have pushed the game this far. Also, the guys before them paved the way for the popularity the game enjoys today. I think they’d be happy to see that this game is in Abu Dhabi now.”
On comparing current players to his style
“That’s a tough question. I don’t know. The game is so different now. I do see some young guys athletically comparable to how I used to be, but kids tend to work on different things today. It’s a different era. I do believe everyone has strengths they bring to the game.”
Advice to young fans in the region
“Be a student of the game. Don’t just watch highlights, which a lot of people do now. Watch the actual game, see yourself in it, and understand how much time pros put into it. A highlight doesn’t suffice.”
On training and mental preparation
“It’s tougher for me not to do anything than to do something these days [Gay announced his retirement at the end of October last year]. I’d usually wake up, eat breakfast, shoot some hoops, lift weights, nap, eat again, head to the gym, lift, get to the stadium, shoot and prepare for the game. Post-game, it was all about recovery, ice, stretching. It was a grind, 82 times a season, plus practices.
“Mentally, if I was in a funk, I always thought somebody else is working harder than me or not enjoying this as much. That kept me motivated.”
On meeting fans at NBA District
“A lot of people coming here might be experiencing a basketball game for the first time. Expect a lot of play, athleticism, and excitement. This game drew me in maybe 30 years ago, and I fell in love with it. Hopefully, it can do the same for them.”
Gay’s presence in Abu Dhabi underscores the NBA’s ongoing strategy to globalise the league, bringing interactive fan experiences, international games, and top players to emerging basketball markets, with the UAE positioned as a key hub for professional basketball in the Middle East.
