The Dallas Mavericks will venture internationally to play against Real Madrid in an exhibition game on October 10th, 2023. The game will be played at WiZink Center in Madrid, Spain.

The details were announced at Friday night’s Mavs Ball and it will be the second time the Mavericks travel abroad for a preseason game during Luka Dončić’s tenure. The Mavs played two preseason games against the Philadelphia 76ers in China during October 2018.

Dončić started his professional career with Real Madrid and played three seasons for the senior team, from 2015 to 2018. Dončić’s role expanded with the club during the 2017-18 season, after Sergio Llull suffered a torn ACL during EuroBasket 2017.

Dončić averaged career high in points, assists, rebounds and field goal percentage in extended minutes as he went on to help the club defeat Fenerbahçe to win the EuroLeague championship in May 2018.

Dončić was named EuroLeague Final Four MVP during the championship run. He was also named EuroLeague regular season MVP, which he became the youngest player to win the award at 19 years old. Dončić was selected to the All-EuroLeague First Team and declared for the 2018 NBA Draft.

The NBA has not announced the official plans just yet, but an auction item at the Mavs Ball announced the date that will be packaged with an Abu Dhabi trip. The NBA signed a deal with Abu Dhabi in November 2021 to host games. The Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks played two preseason games at Etihad Arena in October 2022.

The NBA will return to Adu Dhabi next season, with the Dallas Mavericks to be one of the main attractions. Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced that The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 will feature the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves playing two preseason games on Thursday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 7 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.