Silver: War Scrapped Planned Wizards Games in Doha, Abu Dhabi

Qatar Standard NewsroomFriday, October 2, 2026 at 05:15 PM ASTSource: Qatar Standard

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said this week that the war with Iran forced the league to call off games the Washington Wizards were supposed to play in Doha and Abu Dhabi this month, according to HoopsHype's report from Puck's In The Arena conference. The trip never appeared on the Wizards' announced schedule. Silver said his chief worry is geopolitics and "economic issues, potential inflationary issues" in the United States.

What was planned

ESPN reported on July 30 that the NBA would stage no preseason games in the Middle East this year, the first such gap in five years. The league had held exploratory talks with the Cavaliers, Heat, Nets and Wizards and had looked at a first game in Doha. In one scenario, two of the four teams would play one game in Doha and one in Abu Dhabi on the same trip. No concrete plans had been announced. Last year the Knicks and 76ers played two preseason games in Abu Dhabi. The Wizards' announced preseason has four games, against the Knicks, Pistons, Nets and Pelicans. HoopsHype's note on Silver's remarks does not say how many games were involved or call them preseason, and the full remarks were not available to us.

The war behind it

The United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran in February, which killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The conflict is still running despite several ceasefires, according to Front Office Sports.

The Qatar connection

The Qatar Investment Authority holds a minority stake in Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of the Wizards, which is one reason Doha was on the NBA's radar. Qatar also hosts the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which starts on August 27, 2027, with 32 teams playing in Doha. In early June, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said the organisation was proceeding as scheduled but could adjust if the war forced it to, and said Qatar had not been affected by the hostilities since about April 1.

What comes next

The league is not walking away. In January the NBA extended its partnership with Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism and announced an NBA Global Academy in the emirate. ESPN reported that Abu Dhabi preseason games will be scheduled in future years and that Qatar would be revisited, with no timeline because of the war.

النسخة العربية

سيلفر: الحرب أجهضت مباريات كان مخططاً أن يخوضها ويزاردز في الدوحة وأبوظبي

قال مفوّض الدوري الأمريكي للمحترفين (إن بي إيه) آدم سيلفر هذا الأسبوع إن الحرب مع إيران أجبرت الدوري على إلغاء مباريات كان من المقرر أن يخوضها فريق واشنطن ويزاردز في الدوحة وأبوظبي خلال هذا الشهر، بحسب ما نقله موقع HoopsHype عن مؤتمر "In The Arena" الذي تنظّمه منصة Puck. ولم تكن هذه الرحلة مدرجة في جدول الفريق المعلن. وقال سيلفر إن مصدر قلقه الرئيسي هو الجغرافيا السياسية و"القضايا الاقتصادية والضغوط التضخمية المحتملة" في الولايات المتحدة.

ما الذي كان مخططاً

ذكرت شبكة ESPN في 30 يوليو أن الدوري لن يقيم أي مباراة ودية في الشرق الأوسط هذا العام، وهي المرة الأولى منذ خمس سنوات. وكان الدوري قد أجرى محادثات استكشافية مع كافالييرز وهيت ونتس وويزاردز، ودرس إقامة أول مباراة له في الدوحة. وفي أحد السيناريوهات كان فريقان من الأربعة سيلعبان مباراة في الدوحة وأخرى في أبوظبي ضمن رحلة واحدة. ولم تُعلن أي خطط ملموسة. وفي العام الماضي خاض نيكس وسفنتي سيكسرز مباراتين وديتين في أبوظبي. أما جدول ويزاردز المعلن لما قبل الموسم فيضم أربع مباريات أمام نيكس وبيستونز ونتس وبيليكانز. ولا يذكر موجز HoopsHвидeo عن تصريحات سيلفر عدد المباريات ولا يصفها بالودية، ولم تتوفر لنا تصريحاته الكاملة.

Source tweet

Adam Silver says the Iran war scrapped games the Wizards were supposed to play in Doha and Abu Dhabi this month, per HoopsHype. The trip was never on their announced schedule. QIA holds a minority stake in the team's parent company.