Dubai had a busy summer after winning the ABA League title in just its second season in the competition, while finishing its debut EuroLeague campaign in 11th place, just below the play-in spots.
Dubai appointed a new head coach, Xavi Pascual, who succeeded Aleksander Sekulic. The team was bolstered by Tornike Shengelia, Elie Okobo, Mamadi Diakite, Jaron Blossomgame, and Davion Mintz, while Kevin Kokila, Yannick Kraag and Simonas Lukosius arrived but were immediately sent out on loan.
According to GM Dejan Kamenjasevic, the UAE-based club is not done with transfers, but the new player will come from the NBA unlike their earlier signings.
“I can’t say who will be the next signing, but it will probably be someone from overseas”, Kamenjasevic told RTS.
Reunited sooner than expected 🤝
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) August 6, 2026
After Xavi Pascual was recently appointed as Dubai’s new head coach, Tornike Shengelia has now followed him ✍️
The Georgian forward reportedly paid a release clause worth nearly €1 million to leave Barcelona 💵 pic.twitter.com/zeWK8HG94C
Kamenjasevic believes that Dubai’s arrival in the ABA League and the EuroLeague made a major contribution to the growth of both competitions, especially the ABA League, which has gradually begun to expand.
“I think it was mutually beneficial. After us, clubs from Romania, Slovakia, and Austria arrived. The ABA League is expanding, it has never been stronger or more interesting.
The dominance of Crvena Zvezda and Partizan has been somewhat eased because a new club has emerged that can compete with them on the court, but also one that has a vision for the league to progress off the court.”
The ABA League now has three teams competing in the EuroLeague and several EuroCup participants – a number that could even rise in the coming weeks.
“After the Spanish league, the ABA League is the best domestic league in Europe. We believe that now is the moment to take another step forward and perhaps position itself in the future as the best domestic league in the world.”
Speaking about what Dubai brought, Kamenjasevic stressed that the club’s impact should not be viewed solely through financial investments.
“People will always say first that we brought money. We disagree that it is just about money, because others have invested as well, yet didn’t bring the same results.
To the ABA League, we introduced a team that can compete with anyone, which has increased overall interest in the competition”, Kamenjasevic explained.
