Dubai Basketball

Dubai Basketball
LeagueABA League
EuroLeague
Founded2023
HistoryDubai Basketball
2024–present
ArenaCoca-Cola Arena
Capacity17,000
LocationDubai, United Arab Emirates
General managerDejan Kamenjašević
Team managerMilić Bentley
Head coachJurica Golemac
Team captainKlemen Prepelič
AffiliationDubai Basketball Academy
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

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]

Timeline

  • 2023: Dubai Basketball is officially founded[23]
  • May 2024: ABA League confirms Dubai Basketball's participation[24]
  • July 2024: Partnership established with Shabab Al Ahli Club[25]
  • 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]

Home venue

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.[26][27]

Current roster

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
G 1 Mason, Nate  1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 30 – (1995-07-25)25 July 1995
F 2 Dangubić, Nemanja 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 32 – (1993-04-13)13 April 1993
SF 3 Bacon, Dwayne 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 30 – (1995-08-30)30 August 1995
G 4 Avramović, Aleksa 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 87 kg (192 lb) 31 – (1994-10-25)25 October 1994
SF 5 Abass, Awudu 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 33 – (1993-01-27)27 January 1993
SG 7 Prepelič, Klemen (C) 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 33 – (1992-10-20)20 October 1992
F 8 Bertāns, Dāvis 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 33 – (1992-11-12)12 November 1992
SF 10 Anderson, Justin 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 105 kg (231 lb) 32 – (1993-11-19)19 November 1993
G 11 Kondić, Kosta 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 101 kg (223 lb) 24 – (2001-08-05)5 August 2001
G/F 13 Musa, Džanan 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 101 kg (223 lb) 26 – (1999-05-08)8 May 1999
C 14 Jaiteh, Mam  2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 112 kg (247 lb) 31 – (1994-11-27)27 November 1994
C 17 Kabengele, Mfiondu 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 113 kg (249 lb) 28 – (1997-08-14)14 August 1997
PG 22 Armstrong, Taran 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 24 – (2002-01-15)15 January 2002
PG 25 Wright IV, McKinley 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 87 kg (192 lb) 27 – (1998-10-25)25 October 1998
F/C 30 Petrušev, Filip 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 106 kg (234 lb) 25 – (2000-04-15)15 April 2000
SF 32 Ryan, Matt 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 28 – (1997-04-17)17 April 1997
C 34 Kamenjaš, Kenan 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 105 kg (231 lb) 26 – (2000-01-17)17 January 2000
F/C 51 Caboclo, Bruno 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 30 – (1995-09-21)21 September 1995
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Strength & conditioning coach(es)
  • Roberto Iezzi
  • Oğulcan Aydoğan
Team manager
  • Nenad Banjanin
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured
Updated: November 17, 2025

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Bench 3 Inactive
C Mfiondu Kabengele Bruno Caboclo Kenan Kamenjaš Mam Jaiteh
PF Filip Petrušev Dāvis Bertāns Nemanja Dangubić
SF Dwayne Bacon Džanan Musa Awudu Abass Matt Ryan
SG Justin Anderson Klemen Prepelič Kosta Kondić
PG McKinley Wright IV Aleksa Avramović Taran Armstrong Nate Mason

Players out on loan

Players out on loan
Nat. Player Position Team On loan since
Boogie Ellis G Galatasaray 16 March 2026[28]

Squad changes for/during 2025–26 season

In

No. Pos. Nat. Name Moving from
3 SF Dwayne Bacon Zenit Saint Petersburg
4 G Aleksa Avramović CSKA Moscow
9 G Boogie Ellis Alba Berlin
10 SF Justin Anderson FC Barcelona
13 G/F Džanan Musa Real Madrid
14 C Mam Jaiteh AS Monaco
15 C Sertaç Şanlı Fenerbahçe
17 C Mfiondu Kabengele Reyer Venezia
22 PG Taran Armstrong Santa Cruz Warriors
25 PG McKinley Wright IV Budućnost
30 F/C Filip Petrušev Olympiacos
32 F Matt Ryan New York Knicks
34 C Kenan Kamenjaš Budućnost

Out

No. Pos. Nat. Name Moving to
4 PG Aleksa Uskoković Borac Čačak
11 PG Isaiah Taylor Free agent
22 PF JaCorey Williams Maroussi
29 C Jerry Boutsiele Budućnost
33 SG Danilo Anđušić Aris Thessaloniki
43 C Leon Radošević Split
44 C Ahmet Düverioğlu Esenler Erokspor
15 C Sertaç Şanlı Beşiktaş

References

  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. ^ "Dubai Basketball Wraps Up Historic Debut Season Following Knockout in Belgrade". 3 June 2025.
  24. ^ Passela, Amith. "Dubai Basketball to join EuroLeague as 'dream becomes a reality'". The National.
  25. ^ "Shabab Al Ahli set to compete in BCL Asia 2025". www.fiba.basketball. 26 May 2025.
  26. ^ "Dubai Basketball lose to dominant Partizan in Belgrade". Arab News.
  27. ^ "EuroLeague: Dubai Basketball to face Real Madrid, Barcelona at Coca-Cola Arena". Khaleej Times.
  28. ^ "Boogie Ellis Galatasaray MCT Technic'te". galatasaray.org (in Turkish). 16 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.