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DUBAI: The 2025–26 NBA season tipped off last night with international stars once again taking center stage, highlighting the league’s growing global reach and balance of power.

In Oklahoma City, Canadian MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champions to a dramatic 125-124 double-overtime win over the Houston Rockets on ring night, scoring 35 points and delivering the decisive free throws.

Out west, Slovenian guard Luka Doncic opened his season in spectacular form for the Los Angeles Lakers, recording 43 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in a narrow loss to Golden State, joining Michael Jordan as the only guards in NBA history to open a season with a 40-10-5 stat line.

Their performances captured what NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum called a “new era” for the league, one defined by the strength and reach of its international players.

“This marks a new era for our league, and I think it’s one that’s going to transform how fans everywhere watch and experience the NBA through our new media partnerships, our most global partnerships to date,” Tatum said.

“While we continue to build on the incredible growth of the game, with seven different champions in the last seven seasons, the league’s historic age of competitiveness gives fans hope that this once again could be their team’s year.”

Record number of international players

Ahead of opening night, Tatum confirmed that the league had reached a historic milestone.

“There is a record 135 international players on opening-night rosters that beats the previous record by 10,” he said.

“We have a record number of European players, including a record 19 French players, a record number of players from the UK, and also a record-tying number of players from Australia.

“As you all know, four international players have combined to win the last seven MVP awards.”

That mix of experience and emerging talent has helped shape one of the most competitive landscapes in years.

“There is no clear favorite to win the championship, and that’s why it gives more fans some hope,” Tatum said.

“The skill level in this league is unprecedented right now. There’s a mix of these all-time greats who are still playing at the highest level. There are these perennial MVP candidates who like the Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid.”

Expanding global footprint

Tatum also pointed to the NBA’s continued international expansion, with preseason and regular-season games held across several continents.

“I had the opportunity to attend our preseason games in Abu Dhabi and Macau. We also played NBA games for the first time ever in Melbourne, Australia,” he said.

“We also had preseason games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Vancouver, Canada. And I can tell you that the enthusiasm around those games was truly remarkable.”

Beyond events, the league is also deepening its structural ties internationally.

“Ninety-five percent of the world’s population is outside the United States,” he added.

“And in many of those countries, basketball is either the No.1 or No. 2 sport. Even with everything we’re doing to engage hundreds of millions of passionate NBA fans around the world, we think we’re just scratching the surface of how popular this game and this league can be globally.”

A global game for a global audience

From Antetokounmpo in Greece to Jokic in Serbia and Embiid in Cameroon, international players continue to define the NBA’s identity. Rising talents such as Victor Wembanyama, the fastest player ever to reach 1 billion social media views, are expanding that reach even further.

“These players not only foster a unique connection between the NBA and the fans in their respective countries,” Tatum said.

“They’re global superstars who resonate in the US and around the world.”

As the 2025–26 season gets underway, the NBA’s opening night once again confirmed that basketball’s brightest stars now shine from every corner of the globe.

ABU DHABI: Egypt’s Hamdy Abdelwahab and Palestine’s Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady will bring power, passion and more than a little regional pride to the Etihad Arena at “UFC 321: Aspinall vs. Gane” on Oct. 25.

Abdelwahab, a former Olympic wrestler who represented Egypt at the Tokyo 2020 Games, made history as his country’s first UFC fighter. He returns to action in Abu Dhabi against American Chris Barnett.

“It feels great because it feels like I’m home, fighting in my hometown,” said Abdelwahab, who was born in Cairo.

“I just told the (Arab fans) that I need their support and I’d be happy if they came. I want everyone to be here; I hope I don’t make them disappointed or regret coming.”

Abdelwahab wants to deliver Barnett his fourth UFC defeat. “It doesn’t matter what it’s going to take,” he added. “It’s going to be his luck — whatever it comes out as — but we’re looking to finish this fight.”

The Egyptian praised Abu Dhabi’s efforts to promote martial arts.

“It’s a huge difference from a couple of years ago,” he said. “Abu Dhabi started growing in the sport and growing the organizations and everything, especially in the Middle East.

“I can rank Abu Dhabi as No. 1, you know, the home of martial arts. I also hear that jiu-jitsu has become one of the subjects in schools for kids, which is a great thing to do.

“You can see that any organization hosting fights here in Abu Dhabi, in general, becomes one of the most successful events in any sport. That puts Abu Dhabi at a very high level.”

Also taking to the octagon under an Arab flag will be Al-Selwady, for whom UFC 321 marks a comeback after more than a year out.

“Ever since my last fight, I’ve just been keeping my head down, training, and getting better,” said the Palestinian, who faces Brazil’s Matheus Camilo.

“I had two fights that didn’t go through — one where I got severely injured and the other two opponents kept pulling out. I just kept getting better and better during that time, reflecting on everything that happened.

“I believe this is all part of God’s timing, and right now is my time.”

Al-Selwady says fighting in Abu Dhabi brings his career full circle: “I like to look at it in a positive way wherever I am. If I fight anywhere, I know there’s going to be a good crowd and I know I have my friends traveling with me.

“But fighting here brings me back to when I started MMA in the Middle East. Of course, it’s nice to come back to your roots and represent in front of everyone. Seeing people who followed me from 10 years ago, eight years ago, all excited to come watch me again.”

Al-Selwady has witnessed firsthand the region’s rapid development in MMA. “I started MMA in 2012,” he said. “Back then, Jordan was the capital of MMA because there was a promotion based there.

“Seeing Abu Dhabi throughout the years start adopting MMA and really taking over to what it is right now is very beautiful. We’ve grown together, and to fight here right now is an amazing feeling and a great pleasure.”

Al-Selwady, nicknamed “The Pride of Palestine,” believes the healthy competition between Arab nations has helped the sport flourish.

“Seeing different countries participate in bringing the UFC here, I feel like it’s a very healthy competition between Arab countries (to see) who’s going to throw the biggest events. In the end, the fighters are the biggest ones to gain from that.”