By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Placed in the 2024-25 installment of the AdmiralBet ABA League, and likely also playing in the BKT EuroCup, Dubai is tasked with building a new team from scratch, including hiring a head coach to take command of the ambitious project.
Sasha Djordjevic is a candidate to assume play-calling responsibilities for the team based in the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, according to Meridian sport.
Djordjevic, 56, being linked to Dubai followed similar rumors regarding established tacticians such as Svetislav Pesic, Sergio Scariolo, and Xavi Pascual. He is currently attached to the senior national team of China but the UAE club officials hope to potentially reach a deal to buy out his contract, as noted.
Moving into the next season, ABA announced an expansion to Dubai in March. From the regional to the continental level, Euroleague Basketball is expected to soon confirm a spot in the EuroCup for Dubai.
Stints with Olimpia Milan, Benetton Treviso, Panathinaikos, FC Bayern Munich, Virtus Segafredo Bologna, and Fenerbahce shape coaching experience at the club level for Djordjevic, including 58 features in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Among multiple championships, he led Virtus Bologna to the Basketball Champions League title in 2019.
At the international level, the former player guided Serbia to silver medals in the 2016 Olympic Games and also coached his country’s senior national team in the 2014 and 2019 editions of the FIBA World Cup, and 2015 EuroBasket, before taking over China for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.