By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In the wake of announcing his decision to depart Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv at the end of the 2022-23 season, Nikola Vujcic has been linked to an interesting project.
Vujcic, 44, is a strong candidate to take over as the GM of the new Turkish Airlines EuroLeague team based in Dubai, per Israel Hayom in connection to surfaced rumors.
The former player himself rejected circulating reports countering with his intention to stay focused on Maccabi through the season and later make a decision on his future.
Assuming the role of team manager, he rejoined the Yellows in 2013, after concluding his legendary playing career. The lengthy and successful spell of the Croatian center at Maccabi from 2002 to 2008 was highlighted by back-to-back EuroLeague championships in 2004 and 2005. He was later named to the 2000-10 All-Decade Team.
A possible EuroLeague expansion is far from a secret. A team based in the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates has emerged as a topic of discussion for Euroleague Basketball and the 13 EuroLeague clubs-shareholders, as officially confirmed by acting CEO Marshall Glickman. Dubai was also considered as a potential host for the next Final Four but establishing a team was proposed as a priority.
As for the Israel giant, the current plan is to eventually divide the responsibilities of Vujcic between recently returning and tabbed as the team consultant David Blatt, former head coach and head of scouting and player development Avi Even, and owner Danny Federman, rather than hiring a new team manager, per the report.