Dubai Basketball

Dubaï Basketball

	Foundation	2023
	Arena	Coca-Cola Arena
	Championships	Ligue adriatique / EuroLeague
	Coach	Jurica Golemac
	Famous players who have played for the club	Džanan Musa / Dwayne Bacon / Filip Petrušev

Player to watch : Džanan Musa

Whether you like his playing style or not, one thing is certain: Džanan Musa leaves no one indifferent! A key player for Cedevita Zagreb before the age of 20, he found himself catapulted into the NBA overnight. Drafted 29th overall the same year as another Balkan prodigy named Luka Doncic, the Bosnian didn’t last long with the Brooklyn Nets. Back in Europe, he showcased his talent at Anadolu and then at Lugo, where he had the best individual season of his career, averaging over 20 points per game and earning the Liga Endesa MVP title.

With Real Madrid, Musa quickly filled his trophy case: 1 EuroLeague title, 2 Copa del Rey titles, 2 Super Cups, and 2 LaLiga titles. An offensive genius thanks in large part to his superb ball-handling, his three years at Real Madrid nevertheless ended on a sour note due to his chronic inconsistency. One night he was MVP, then a week later completely out of his depth on defense. Such was the rollercoaster ride the forward was on a few months before leaving the Spanish capital. Today, he’s in a whole new role as the first franchise player in the history of Dubai Basketball. A new challenge as intriguing as it is fraught with uncertainty.

Playing style

In an era where the 3-pointer reigns supreme, this Jurica Golemac-coached Dubai Basketball team prefers to drive to the basket, use their elbows, and create their own shots. Excellent at attacking the rim, this team switches frequently between drives and spot-up shooting. Far from being one-dimensional from beyond the arc, this squad nevertheless leans more toward mid-range shots.

Thanks to extremely athletic big men, Filip Petrušev’s teammates also love to dominate in the paint, especially off the bench, where they excel. While very well-rounded offensively, Dubai Basketball does, however, struggle somewhat on defense. Depending on the players on the court, Jurica Golemac switches between man-to-man and a 2-3 zone. This system is still a work in progress, particularly due to the absence of Mam Jaiteh.

Histoire du club

Founded by Abdulla Saeed Juma Al Naboodah and Dejan Kamenjašević, Dubai Basketball made it clear from the outset that it intended to challenge the continent’s elite in the EuroLeague (C1). However, the Emirati club did not immediately secure that coveted spot on Europe’s biggest stage. In fact, its application was rejected! To strengthen its case for a potential entry in 2025–2026, Dubai turned to a regional competition: the ABA League. This league, which typically features teams from the former Yugoslavia, allowed the new franchise to compete for at least three years.

In the summer of 2024, Dubai Basketball signed the first head coach in its history—Jurica Golemac—along with a roster of players. With point guard Nate Mason leading the charge, the club also announced its move to the Coca-Cola Arena. Then, as if in a waking dream, the Emiratis defeated Red Star Belgrade in their first Adriatic League game. A promising victory! This rookie season indeed showed that the club had what it took. Big names like Partizan, Zadar, and Cedevita Zagreb fell to the future semifinalist of the competition.

As Dubai Basketball continues to excel in the Adriatic League, rumors about the EuroLeague (C1) are spreading rapidly. The news soon broke: the Emirati club has secured a five-year license set to begin in September 2025! Less than two years after its founding, the club is competing in Europe’s most prestigious club competition. This change marks the beginning of a new era. And given the investments made over the summer, the City of Gold intends to keep shaking up the standings!

Zoom : Travel

As explained earlier, from its inception, Dubai Basketball aimed to join not only the EuroLeague but also the Adriatic League. However, in the latter case, some clubs were reluctant to admit this team from the Middle East.

Ultimately, the new route from the Persian Gulf to the Adriatic Sea was made possible by Dubai Basketball’s financial resources. In addition to the 8 million euros spent to secure this three-year contract, the club guaranteed to cover all travel expenses from the Balkans to the United Arab Emirates. In other words, travel for each team visiting the Coca-Cola Arena is completely free. A small gesture that certainly played a significant role in the final decision.