Dubai Basketball’s Historic Season at Coca-Cola Arena
Dubai Basketball is embarking on its inaugural season at the iconic Coca-Cola Arena, competing in one of Europe’s premier basketball leagues. Fresh off a commanding victory in Serbia against the reigning champions, Dubai Basketball is set to return home for a crucial showdown on Sunday, January 19, against the playoff-bound Cedevita Olimpija. This match promises to be a thrilling clash of basketball giants, with Dubai Basketball currently holding a solid fourth place in the standings with a 12-4 record, eagerly preparing to face a formidable opponent.
Cedevita Olimpija, known for its storied history and dynamic offensive strategies, has garnered a reputation for developing elite talent. In an exciting development, Dubai Basketball has recently enhanced its roster by signing French superstar center Jerry Boutsiele. This upcoming game will be especially significant as Boutsiele becomes the first-ever French player to don the Dubai Basketball jersey at home. The 32-year-old center brings a wealth of experience, having previously played for top European clubs including Limoges, Monaco, and Bahçeşehir. During his tenure in the Turkish Basketball League, Boutsiele showcased his skills by averaging 11.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, promising to fortify Dubai’s front court considerably.
As the first professional basketball franchise in the UAE, Dubai Basketball is attracting significant attention and support from local fans, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for the sport within the region. The squad features an impressive lineup of elite players hailing from various countries, including the USA, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Jordan, Turkey, Latvia, Italy, Bosnia, and France. Additionally, the game day experience on Sunday will include exhilarating pre-game and halftime performances by Global Village, enhancing the overall atmosphere. Tickets are available starting from just Dhs75, but fans are encouraged to act quickly to secure them at that price.
Home Games at Coca-Cola Arena
In July 2024, Dubai Basketball made the exciting announcement that their home games would take place at the Coca-Cola Arena. This state-of-the-art venue, with a capacity of 15,000, allows fans to witness thrilling matchups against some of the world’s elite teams from September 2024 onward. The team is competing in the 16-team ABA (Adriatic) League, which features top clubs from Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Coached by the experienced Slovenian player and coach Jurica Golemac, Dubai Basketball will play their away games across Europe while bringing the excitement home at the Coca-Cola Arena throughout the season. After a successful opening day, Coach Golemac, who previously led his team to three consecutive Slovenian League titles from 2019 to 2022, praised his players for their outstanding performance. This season, fans can look forward to nine exhilarating games at the arena.
Dubai Basketball Roster for the ABA League 2024/25
The roster includes several players with impressive backgrounds, having played for top clubs in the NBA and across Europe. Highlights include the 7ft tall center Ahmet Düverioğlu, who previously won the EuroLeague with Fenerbahçe, ex-Real Madrid shooting guard Klemen Prepelić, and former Virtus Bologna small forward Awudu Abass. The full team lineup is as follows:
- Nate Mason (American guard, previously Atléticos de San Germán in Puerto Rico)
- Aleksa Uskoković (Serbian point guard, previously Borac Čačak in Serbia)
- Thirdy Ravena (Filipino shooting guard, previously San-en NeoPhoenix in Japan)
- Klemen Prepelić (Slovenian shooting guard, previously Galatasaray Ekmas in Turkey)
- Nemanja Dangubić (Serbian small forward, previously Peristeri in Greece)
- Danilo Anđušić (Serbian shooting guard, previously Partizan in Serbia)
- Awudu Abass (Italian small forward, previously Virtus Bologna)
- Nemanja Dangubić (Serbian forward, previously Peristeri B.C)
- JaCorey Williams (American power forward, previously Hapoel Jerusalem)
- Leon Radošević (Croatian center, previously Derthona Basket in Italy)
- Ahmet Düverioğlu (Turkish-Jordanian center, previously Çağdaş Bodrumspor in Turkey)
- Bora Yasar (Turkish center, previously Darüşşafaka in Turkey)
- Dāvis Bertāns (Latvian power forward, previously Charlotte Hornets in NBA)
- Isaiah Shaquille Taylor (American point guard, previously Atlanta Hawks in NBA)
- Jerry Franck Boutsiele (French center, previously Courcouronnes)
Single tickets available from Dhs75. Sun Jan 19, 6pm. Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk. For more details, visit dubaibasketball.com
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