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Dubai Basketball

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Dubai Basketball
Dubai Basketball logo
LeagueABA League
EuroLeague
Founded2023
HistoryDubai Basketball
2024–present
ArenaCoca-Cola Arena
Capacity17,000
LocationDubai, United Arab Emirates
PresidentSalem Bin Dasmal
General managerDejan Kamenjašević
Team managerNenad Banjanin
Head coachAleksander Sekulić
Team captainKlemen Prepelič
AffiliationDubai Basketball Academy
Championships1 ABA League
Websitedubaibasketball.com

Dubai Basketball is a professional basketball club based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It currently competes in the ABA League and the EuroLeague. The club plays its home games at the Coca-Cola Arena.

Founded in 2023, the club entered the EuroLeague in 2025. Despite being located in UAE, it doesn't compete in the UAE National Basketball League. The club colours are brown, black and white.

History

[edit]

Dubai Basketball was founded by Abdulla Saeed Juma Al Naboodah and Dejan Kamenjašević.[1][2] In January 2024, the ABA League confirmed Dubai Basketball's inclusion for a three-season term.[3][4][5][6] The club’s entry into the ABA League was part of an initiative to develop basketball in the region.[7][8] Jurica Golemac was signed as the first head coach,[9][10][11][12][13][14] while Nate Mason was the first signed player.[15] Dāvis Bertāns became the first NBA-experienced player to join the club.[16] Dubai BC announced that the 17,000 seater Coca-Cola Arena would serve as their home arena.[17]

In their first ABA game, on September 22, 2024, Dubai defeated Red Star Belgrade at home.[18] They also notably defeated Partizan, Zadar and Cedevita Olimpija, securing a place in the playoffs.[19] They were eliminated by Partizan Belgrade in the semifinals.[20] The club first competed in the European top-tier EuroLeague for the 2025–26 season, after getting a five–year license to participate.[21] For its debut season, Dubai had a player budget of €16 million.[22] In their second ABA season, Dubai Basketball made history by winning the 2025/26 title against Partizan Belgrade.[23]

Timeline

[edit]
  • 2023: Dubai Basketball is officially founded[24]
  • May 2024: ABA League confirms Dubai Basketball's participation[25]
  • July 2024: Partnership established with Shabab Al Ahli Club[26]
  • September 22, 2024: Dubai Basketball won debut ABA League match against KK Crvena Zvezda
  • June 2025: The Euroleague confirms Dubai Basketball’s participation on a 5-year contract[4]
  • June 2026: Dubai Basketball wins the 2025/26 ABA League title after defeating Partizan 3-1 in the Finals.[27]

Home venue

[edit]

In summer of 2024, Dubai Basketball announced the Coca-Cola Arena as its official home venue. The arena, with a seating capacity of 15,000, hosts all home games during the EuroLeague and the ABA League seasons.[28][29]

Current roster

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Dubai Basketball roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
F 2 Serbia Dangubić, Nemanja 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 33 – (1993-04-13)13 April 1993
SF 3 United States Bacon, Dwayne 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 30 – (1995-08-30)30 August 1995
G 4 Serbia Avramović, Aleksa 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 87 kg (192 lb) 31 – (1994-10-25)25 October 1994
SF 5 Italy Abass, Awudu 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 33 – (1993-01-27)27 January 1993
SG 7 Slovenia Prepelič, Klemen (C) 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 33 – (1992-10-20)20 October 1992
F 8 Latvia Bertāns, Dāvis 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 33 – (1992-11-12)12 November 1992
SF 10 United States Anderson, Justin 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 105 kg (231 lb) 32 – (1993-11-19)19 November 1993
G 11 Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbia Kondić, Kosta 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 101 kg (223 lb) 24 – (2001-08-05)5 August 2001
G/F 13 Bosnia and Herzegovina Musa, Džanan 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 101 kg (223 lb) 27 – (1999-05-08)8 May 1999
C 14 France Jaiteh, Mam Injured 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 112 kg (247 lb) 31 – (1994-11-27)27 November 1994
C 17 Canada Kabengele, Mfiondu 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 113 kg (249 lb) 28 – (1997-08-14)14 August 1997
PG 25 United States Wright IV, McKinley 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 87 kg (192 lb) 27 – (1998-10-25)25 October 1998
F/C 30 Serbia Petrušev, Filip 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 106 kg (234 lb) 26 – (2000-04-15)15 April 2000
C 34 Bosnia and Herzegovina Kamenjaš, Kenan 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 105 kg (231 lb) 26 – (2000-01-17)17 January 2000
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Strength & conditioning coach(es)
  • Italy Roberto Iezzi
  • Turkey Oğulcan Aydoğan
Team manager
  • Serbia Nenad Banjanin
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: April 13, 2026

Depth chart

[edit]
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Inactive
C Mfiondu Kabengele Kenan Kamenjaš Mam Jaiteh Injured
PF Dāvis Bertāns Filip Petrušev Nemanja Dangubić
SF Justin Anderson Dwayne Bacon Awudu Abass
SG Džanan Musa Klemen Prepelič
PG McKinley Wright IV Aleksa Avramović Kosta Kondić

Squad changes for/during 2026–27 season

[edit]

In

[edit]
No. Pos. Nat. Name Moving from

Out

[edit]
No. Pos. Nat. Name Moving to
1 PG United States Nate Mason Free agent
9 G United States Boogie Ellis Free agent
22 PG Australia Taran Armstrong Tasmania JackJumpers Australia
32 F United States Matt Ryan Free agent
51 C Brazil Bruno Caboclo Free agent

Season by season

[edit]
Season ABA League Pos. W–L European competitions
2024–25 Semifinalist 3rd 28–8
2025–26 Champions 1st 28–5 1 EuroLeague 11th 19–19

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Dubai lays up for making UAE basketball history". Aletihad Newspaper. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Dubai wants to form a team to win the Euroleague". KOS magazin. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Motiejunas evaluates Dubai's EuroLeague entry for next season, Serbian clubs future". basketnews.com. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b Passela, Amith. "Dubai Basketball make perfect start with memorable win in ABA League". The National.
  5. ^ "Conclusions of the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly session in Zagreb : ABA League". ABA Liga. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Dubai and ABA League's financial details revealed". basketnews.com. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Dubai Basketball end historic first season with knockout in Belgrade". Arab News. 3 June 2025.
  8. ^ Passela, Amith. "Dubai Basketball mean business in ABA play-offs: 'We are full of confidence, full of ambition'". The National.
  9. ^ "Jurica Golemac becomes the head coach of the newly-formed Dubai". eurohoops.net. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  10. ^ Tansley, Eduardo (15 August 2025). "Dubai Basketball and its meteoric rise to EuroLeague: 'This is a story from a movie'" – via NYTimes.com.
  11. ^ "Dubai Basketball coach Jurica Golemac confident ahead of EuroLeague debut". Khaleej Times.
  12. ^ "Dwayne Bacon to join Dubai Basketball from Zenit Saint Petersburg". Arab News.
  13. ^ Passela, Amith. "Dubai Basketball's dream debut season continues after ABA play-off win over Cedevita Olimpija". The National.
  14. ^ Passela, Amith. "Dubai Basketball coach urges fans to show up in force for must-win Partizan match". The National.
  15. ^ "Dubai make their first summer signing as they ink a 2-year contract with Nate Mason : ABA League". ABA Liga. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  16. ^ Adams, Luke (10 September 2024). "Davis Bertans Signs With Dubai BC". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  17. ^ "BC Dubai announce Coca-Cola Arena as official home venue". basketnews.com. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Dubai bring Zvezda down, record first win in club's history". basketnews.com. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Dubai Basketball ABA league Playoffs". msn.com. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Dubai Basketball end historic first season with knockout in Belgrade". Arab News. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  21. ^ "2025–26 EuroLeague and EuroCup season teams and calendar confirmed". Euroleague Basketball. 19 June 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  22. ^ Gajic, Dejan (24 July 2025). "Dubai reveals €16M budget ahead of EuroLeague debut". Basketball Sphere. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  23. ^ j.t.d, ABA liga. "Dubai Basketball are the 2025/26 AdmiralBet ABA League Champions : ABA League". ABA Liga. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  24. ^ "Dubai Basketball Wraps Up Historic Debut Season Following Knockout in Belgrade". 3 June 2025.
  25. ^ Passela, Amith. "Dubai Basketball to join EuroLeague as 'dream becomes a reality'". The National.
  26. ^ "Shabab Al Ahli set to compete in BCL Asia 2025". www.fiba.basketball. 26 May 2025.
  27. ^ "Dubai Basketball make history with first ABA League title in second season". basketnews.com. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  28. ^ "Dubai Basketball lose to dominant Partizan in Belgrade". Arab News.
  29. ^ "EuroLeague: Dubai Basketball to face Real Madrid, Barcelona at Coca-Cola Arena". Khaleej Times.
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