In recognition of the impressive setup and performance of the new Dubai Basketball establishment in the Adriatic Basketball Association (ABA) League, Nikola Jokic, a prominent name in the sport and three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, expressed his excitement and endorsement. Jokic dubbed the advent of the franchise in the Emirates as a grand progress in basketball.
Dubai Basketball, the brainchild of Abdulla Saeed Al Naboodah since 2023, is a fresh professional franchise preparing to compete in the ABA league in the 2024-2025 season.
This promising team, made up of an international roster of players hailing from the Philippines, Turkey, the USA, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Jordan, Latvia, and Italy, has taken a stunning leap with victories in their first two league matches. Their forthcoming face-off will be a home game against the Serbian team Mega MIS at the Coca-Cola Arena, a team where Jokic kickstarted his professional journey, playing three seasons before getting drafted into the Denver Nuggets.
Currently in the UAE alongside the Nuggets for the NBA Abu Dhabi Games, Jokic hears positive reviews about Dubai Basketball.
“Honestly, I believe this venture is excellent for both basketball and the country it’s based in,” revealed the champion of the 2022-2023 NBA season in an interview at Etihad Arena.
“Basketball should, and indeed, needs to proliferate more.
“Feedback from a couple of friends on the team in Dubai indicates a well-run organization that might be a catalyst for basketball growth in this nation.”
Jokic has his second visit to Abu Dhabi within three months, as part of the Serbian national team’s summer training ahead of their Paris Olympics journey, which led them to bag a bronze medal.
A renowned equestrian enthusiast and horse owner, Jokic entertained a question about his interest in exploring the UAE’s horse racing scene.
Despite expressing interest, he confessed that he might not have the time, though he emphasized, “Perhaps someday.”
Notwithstanding a brief off-season due to Olympic responsibilities, Jokic remains positive about his fitness heading into the new NBA season.
He optimistically added, “The previous time I played with the national team resulted in a championship. So that might even aid my stamina.”
“It might eventually turn out that I am in better shape. Only time will tell, likely at the start or perhaps at the end of the upcoming season.”
Following their first-ever NBA Championship victory in 2023, the Denver Nuggets, featuring Jokic, faced elimination in the succeeding playoffs season by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jokic, however, dismissed suggestions of this early exit impacting his motivation for the upcoming season. He insisted that the past year doesn’t influence his drive.
Jokic, the 29-year-old Serbian powerhouse, commented: “Even though they always say that defending a championship is arduous, clinching one is remarkably challenging in the first place.”
He voiced an understanding that winning a championship involves various emotional dynamics. They perhaps didn’t have a break, and maybe this tiredness emerged. Still, he firmly believed that they should revel in their championship success. After all, many great teams never achieve that, so they should cherish their victory, and everything else is just a bonus.”
The Nuggets will be looking to re-establish their dynamic duo, Jokic and Jamal Murray. They will also welcome the experienced veteran point guard Russell Westbrook and the Croatian forward/center Dario Saric to their ranks.
Westbrook, a former NBA MVP and nine-time All-Star, has been creating an energetic and vocal vibe in practice, with his vast experience from 16 seasons in the league projecting immense leadership.
As per Jokic, Westbrook has been a positive force, fostering great teamwork both on and off the court. “So far, he’s been great, and hopefully, he can maintain this throughout the season.”
The Nuggets are gearing up to compete with the current NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, in two preseason games at Etihad Arena, Yam Island, on October 4 and 6. This forms part of the third edition of the NBA Abu Dhabi Games.
