Starting point
Dubai Basketball arrive at the 2026/27 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season with a roster that looks very different from last year's group. The club remain committed to their international project in Dubai, but the playing core was rebuilt in the summer through major departures and high-profile additions. The schedule offers little room to settle in: their official home opener comes against Real Madrid on 24 September.
The internal record still lacks a complete picture of the 2025/26 campaign — no verified final record or standing — so this preview relies mainly on the current roster, confirmed roster moves and the fixed calendar. Off the court, the club remain under institutional scrutiny after EuroLeague opened a disciplinary case linked to the Thomas Walkup situation, a context worth separating from pure basketball analysis, but part of the team's environment nonetheless.
Changes and roster
The turnover is extensive. Confirmed exits effective from 1 July include Nate Mason, Danilo Andjusic, Aleksa Avramovic, Taran Armstrong, Boogie Ellis and Matt Ryan. Sertac Sanli, meanwhile, left for Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul. Facing that gap, Dubai strengthened the core with players carrying recent European experience and national-team form.
Elie Okobo arrives from AS Monaco Basket and immediately projects as a lead playmaking reference. His recent FIBA World Cup numbers with France — 14.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game across three games — support the idea of a mature point guard ready from day one.
Tornike Shengelia is arguably the highest-profile signing. The forward arrived from Barça with proven EuroLeague continuity: last season he averaged 12.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 34 games. His inside-out skill set fits the identity Dubai have pursued since joining the competition.
On the perimeter, Dzanan Musa keeps the scoring profile he showed with Bosnia & Herzegovina at the FIBA World Cup. Jaron Blossomgame also joined from Monaco, Mamadi Diakite from Baskonia and Mouhammadou Jaiteh was signed for the frontcourt. Davis Bertans, Filip Petrusev, Mfiondu Kabengele, Kenan Kamenjas, Dwayne Bacon, Justin Anderson, Nemanja Dangubic, Awudu Abass, Klemen Prepelic, Davion Mintz, McKinley Wright IV and Kosta Kondic complete a deep, heterogeneous roster.
The depth is real, but blending so many new profiles will be one of the season's central themes. Dubai are not building on internal continuity; they are building on accumulated talent and on the coaching staff's ability to sort minutes and roles quickly.
Identity and strengths
The team lean on offensive versatility and interior size. Bertans, Shengelia, Diakite, Petrusev, Kabengele and Jaiteh provide spacing and paint options, while the backcourt mixes EuroLeague experience with individual shot creation on the wings.
Intangibly, Dubai arrive with a roster built to trade blows in high-intensity games. This is no longer a proof-of-concept exercise: the mix of European veterans, young talent and NBA-track names points toward a play-in push from the opening weeks, provided the group gels on time.
Risks
The main question mark is continuity. With six confirmed exits and several headline signings, the margin for error in collective building is narrow. Without a reliable statistical reference from last season in the database, any projection must stay cautious: in practical terms, Dubai are a new team wearing the same name.
The early calendar does not help either. In the first weeks they face Real Madrid, Barça, Fenerbahçe, Crvena Zvezda, Baskonia, Milan and Bayern, plus the Emirates derby against Paris Basketball. A slow start could hurt the standings before the roster finds rhythm.
The open EuroLeague disciplinary case adds external noise. It does not directly change the roster, but it can affect perception and staff focus at certain stages of the season.
Expectations and reasonable outlook
With no verified previous results, the most prudent read places Dubai Basketball in the lower-middle tier with outside play-in hopes if the group clicks early. The available talent allows bigger dreams; the lack of continuity forces moderation.
In editorial terms — not as a mathematical forecast — the ceiling depends on turning Okobo, Shengelia and Musa into a stable trio and extracting defensive value from a deep but still-unsettled frontcourt rotation. The floor, if integration drags, is being pulled down by an especially demanding opening schedule.
Opening games
The 2026/27 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague opener is at home against Real Madrid on 24 September at 18:00 UTC. Four days later they host Barça in another immediate test of the project's level.
The first road game comes on 2 October in Istanbul against Fenerbahçe Beko. After that, Dubai will face Crvena Zvezda, Baskonia, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, FC Bayern Munich and Paris Basketball before the end of October. In short, the exam starts with the opening tip.
