Wikipedia

Dubai Basketball

Dubai Basketball
Dubai Basketball logo
LeagueABA League
EuroLeague
Founded2023
HistoryDubai Basketball
2024–present
ArenaCoca-Cola Arena
Capacity17,000
LocationDubai, United Arab Emirates
General managerDejan Kamenjašević
Team managerNenad Banjanin
Head coachJurica Golemac
Team captainKlemen Prepelič
AffiliationFalcons Academy
Websitedubaibasketball.com

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

Founded in 2023, the team entered the EuroLeague in 2025. Despite located in UAE the club doesn't compete in the UAE National Basketball League and no Emirati player has featured for the team so far.

The team's colours are brown, black and white.

History

[edit]

Dubai Basketball was founded by Abdulla Saeed Juma Al Naboodah and Dejan Kamenjašević in 2023 as the first home franchise team based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[1][2]

In January 2024, the ABA League confirmed Dubai Basketball's inclusion for a three-season term starting in the 2024–25 season.[3][4]

On 19 March 2024, the ABA League officially announced BC Dubai would join the league for the next three seasons, starting from 2024.[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 team's first head coach,[9] while Nate Mason was the first officially signed player for the team.[10] Dāvis Bertāns also became the first former NBA player to defect from that league to play for Dubai instead.[11] Later in the summer, Dubai BC announced that the 17,000 seater Coca-Cola Arena would serve as the team's home arena.[12]

In their first ABA game, on September 22, 2024, Dubai defeated Red Star Belgrade at home.[13] They also defeated Partizan, Zadar and Cedevita Olimpija, amongst others, in the 2024–25 season, securing a place in the playoffs.[14] They were eliminated by Partizan Belgrade in the semifinals.[15]

The team competes in the European top-tier basketball league, EuroLeague for the 2025–26 season, as the team got a five–year license to participate until 2029–30 season.[16] They became the first non-Israeli team that was not based in Europe to play in the league. For its debut season, Dubai worked with a player budget of €16 million.[17]

Timeline

[edit]

Home venue

[edit]

In July 2024, Dubai Basketball announced the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai as its official home venue. The arena, with a seating capacity of 15,000, hosts all home games during the EuroLeague and ABA League seasons.[21][22]

Coaching staff

[edit]

Jurica Golemac is the club's coach.[23][24] He previously led Koper Primorska to multiple domestic trophies and later served as head coach of Cedevita Olimpija from 2020 to 2023, winning national league and cup titles.[25][26]

In 2024, Golemac became the first head coach of Dubai Basketball. In the club’s debut ABA League season, he guided the team to an impressive regular-season record and a playoff semifinal appearance.[27]

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
G 1 United States Mason, Nate Injured 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 30 – (1995-07-25)25 July 1995
F 2 Serbia Dangubić, Nemanja 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 32 – (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 Ghana Abass, Awudu 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 32 – (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
G 9 United States Ellis, Boogie 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 24 – (2000-12-12)12 December 2000
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) 26 – (1999-05-08)8 May 1999
C 14 France The Gambia Jaiteh, Mam Injured 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 112 kg (247 lb) 31 – (1994-11-27)27 November 1994
C 15 Turkey Şanlı, Sertaç 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) 115 kg (254 lb) 34 – (1991-08-05)5 August 1991
C 17 Canada Kabengele, Mfiondu 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 113 kg (249 lb) 28 – (1997-08-14)14 August 1997
PG 22 Australia Armstrong, Taran 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 23 – (2002-01-15)15 January 2002
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) 25 – (2000-04-15)15 April 2000
SF 32 United States Ryan, Matt 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 28 – (1997-04-17)17 April 1997
C 34 Bosnia and Herzegovina Kamenjaš, Kenan 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 105 kg (231 lb) 25 – (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: November 17, 2025

Depth chart

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

Squad changes for/during 2025–26 season

[edit]

In

[edit]
No. Pos. Nat. Name Moving from
3 SF United States Dwayne Bacon Zenit Saint Petersburg Russia
4 G Serbia Aleksa Avramović CSKA Moscow Russia
9 G United States Boogie Ellis Alba Berlin Germany
10 SF United States Justin Anderson FC Barcelona Spain
13 G/F Bosnia and Herzegovina Džanan Musa Real Madrid Spain
14 C France The Gambia Mam Jaiteh AS Monaco France
15 C Turkey Sertaç Şanlı Fenerbahçe Turkey
17 C Canada Mfiondu Kabengele Reyer Venezia Italy
22 PG Australia Taran Armstrong Santa Cruz Warriors United States
25 PG United States McKinley Wright IV Budućnost Montenegro
30 F/C Serbia Filip Petrušev Olympiacos Greece
32 F United States Matt Ryan New York Knicks United States
34 C Bosnia and Herzegovina Kenan Kamenjaš Budućnost Montenegro

Out

[edit]
No. Pos. Nat. Name Moving to
4 PG Serbia Aleksa Uskoković Borac Čačak Serbia
11 PG United States Isaiah Taylor Free agent
22 PF United States JaCorey Williams Maroussi Greece
29 C France Jerry Boutsiele Budućnost Montenegro
33 SG Serbia Danilo Anđušić Aris Thessaloniki Greece
43 C Croatia Germany Leon Radošević Split Croatia
44 C Turkey Jordan Ahmet Düverioğlu Esenler Erokspor Turkey

See also

[edit]

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. ^ "Dubai make their first summer signing as they ink a 2-year contract with Nate Mason : ABA League". ABA Liga. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  11. ^ Adams, Luke (10 September 2024). "Davis Bertans Signs With Dubai BC". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  12. ^ "BC Dubai announce Coca-Cola Arena as official home venue". basketnews.com. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Dubai bring Zvezda down, record first win in club's history". basketnews.com. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Dubai Basketball ABA league Playoffs". msn.com. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Dubai Basketball end historic first season with knockout in Belgrade". Arab News. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  16. ^ a b "2025–26 EuroLeague and EuroCup season teams and calendar confirmed". Euroleague Basketball. 19 June 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  17. ^ Gajic, Dejan (24 July 2025). "Dubai reveals €16M budget ahead of EuroLeague debut". Basketball Sphere. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Dubai Basketball Wraps Up Historic Debut Season Following Knockout in Belgrade". 3 June 2025.
  19. ^ Passela, Amith. "Dubai Basketball to join EuroLeague as 'dream becomes a reality'". The National.
  20. ^ "Shabab Al Ahli set to compete in BCL Asia 2025". www.fiba.basketball. 26 May 2025.
  21. ^ "Dubai Basketball lose to dominant Partizan in Belgrade". Arab News.
  22. ^ "EuroLeague: Dubai Basketball to face Real Madrid, Barcelona at Coca-Cola Arena". Khaleej Times.
  23. ^ Tansley, Eduardo (15 August 2025). "Dubai Basketball and its meteoric rise to EuroLeague: 'This is a story from a movie'" – via NYTimes.com.
  24. ^ "Dubai Basketball coach Jurica Golemac confident ahead of EuroLeague debut". Khaleej Times.
  25. ^ "Dwayne Bacon to join Dubai Basketball from Zenit Saint Petersburg". Arab News.
  26. ^ Passela, Amith. "Dubai Basketball's dream debut season continues after ABA play-off win over Cedevita Olimpija". The National.
  27. ^ Passela, Amith. "Dubai Basketball coach urges fans to show up in force for must-win Partizan match". The National.