Don’t Come Home: Philadelphia 76ers are scheduled to play the New York Knicks in Abu Dhabi next season

Drew Smith
April 24, 2025
Sixers
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The Philadelphia 76ers are heading to Abu Dhabi this October to play two preseason games against the New York Knicks. And frankly? They should just stay overseas.

The NBA announced Thursday that the 76ers will face the Knicks on October 2 and 4 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island as part of the 2025 NBA Abu Dhabi Games.

It’ll be Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George suiting up in front of a sold-out crowd half a world away. Because back home? That same energy just doesn’t exist anymore.

Philadelphia 76ers are scheduled to play the New York Knicks in Abu Dhabi next season

it’s official: we’re heading to Abu Dhabi for a special preseason matchup ✈️#NBAinAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/1PUHVG2Rg5
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 24, 2025

Let’s call it what it is: the 76ers fanbase is checked out. Not fully gone, but damn close. The kind of close that starts to feel Flyers-relevant. You know, when people stop being angry and just start forgetting you exist. And that’s what happens when you run it back year after year with the same tired blueprint, just in slightly different packaging.

“Maxey! Embiid! George!” Yeah yeah, we’ve heard this before. Swap in Harden, swap in Butler, swap in Simmons — it’s all the same story. Stars, hype, early optimism, playoff collapse, radio silence. Wash, rinse, exit in six.

So sure, take the show to Abu Dhabi. Let the international crowd get their once-a-year look at the MVP. Let the Knicks fanbase travel and act like they invented basketball again. Maybe Embiid will hit a fadeaway and PG-13 will knock down a preseason corner three and it’ll look like the Process is finally fulfilled… until it isn’t.

Meanwhile, Philly fans are stuck in apathy purgatory. You can almost hear the collective shrug when the announcement dropped. This used to be an event — an NBA team from Philly going overseas. Now? It barely registers. That’s what happens when your season ends in April and nobody feels like you’re even trying to change the outcome.

The 76ers are entering a danger zone.

Not just on the court, but in relevance. The city has already hitched its identity to the Phillies and Eagles. Hell, even the Union are pulling weight. The Flyers showed signs of life this year and still weren’t talked about. That’s the territory the Sixers are sliding into.

So maybe Abu Dhabi is the right fit. Less pressure, more lights. A fresh crowd that doesn’t know any better. And when the confetti doesn’t fall again next June, the folks over there might actually be surprised.

Us? We’ve seen this movie too many times. Let us know when it changes.