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Giannis Antetokounmpo hopes to help the NBA become more global by playing in China and India. Antetokounmpo shines on behalf of the Middle East League at the 2022 NBA Abu Dhabi Games. The Milwaukee Bucks face the Atlanta Hawks twice at the Etihad Stadium.
During a press conference in Abu Dhabi, the two-time MVP expressed his interest in playing elsewhere in the world. Antetokounmpo is open to playing more games in countries like China and India. The last time the NBA played in these two countries was before the 2019 pandemic.
“I would love to play in China, maybe in Shanghai or Beijing,” Antetokounmpo said. “It would be a good experience, maybe somewhere in India.
“Try to expand the game as much as possible, make it global and get where we haven’t. A lot of people around the world love basketball and we had to show that we wanted to create something for the fans.”
Giannis plays basketball around the world 🌍 https://t.co/8y67f5Bvlf
Since 2007, the NBA has played many preseason games in China. China is one of the largest markets in the world, and the league makes billions of dollars from TV deals there.The last two teams to play preseason in China are Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets.
Meanwhile, the league held several pre-season games in India.This Sacramento Kings and the Indiana Pacers visited the country in 2017. NBA plans to return to India, but pandemic stops everything, According to Commissioner Adam Silver:
“We do have plans to go back to India. That’s one of the setbacks from the pandemic. You remember, it was the fall before the pandemic really hit the world.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo plays one of two matches in Abu Dhabi
Giannis Antetokounmpo Played one of two games for the Milwaukee Bucks in Abu Dhabi. ‘Greek Freak’ gets dressed in Game 1 against the Atlanta Hawks. He had 19 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes. The Bucks lost the game 123-113.
Trae Young Scored 22 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists for the Hawks. Meanwhile, Dejounte Murray had a solid first game with his new team. Murray had 25 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. Young and Murray could make up one of the best backcourts in the NBA.
In Game 2 in Abu Dhabi, the Bucks decided to give Giannis a break. The two-time MVP sat on the bench as fans chanted his name. Milwaukee lost their second exhibition game 118-109.
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