iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Teammate Rashed Al Qemzi stays on course for a record fifth title triumph in the UIM F2 World Championship
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Former NBA star Davis Bertans joins Dubai Basketball
Dubai Basketball, the newly-established professional sports franchise, will become the first UAE team to compete in a major European league
Davis Bertans (9) of the Charlotte Hornets passes the ball against Garrison Mathews and Bruno Fernando of the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on April 10, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. — AFP file
Dubai Basketball has announced the signing of former NBA star Davis Bertans ahead of their historic season in Europe’s ABA League with match tickets for their opening game on September 22 now on sale.
The Latvian forward, who last played for Charlotte Hornets in the 2023-24 season, joins Dubai Basketball, the newly-established professional sports franchise, which will become the first UAE team to compete in a major European league.
The team open their competitive campaign at Coca-Cola Arena against reigning league champions Red Star, marking the start of a historic season with Dubai Basketball bringing together players from across the world including the United States, the Philippines, and many of Europe’s Balkan nations.
Bertans’ move to Dubai means he ends his eight-year stay in the NBA after stints with San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets.
During his career, he has won three Serbian league titles, one Serbian Cup and the Slovenian Cup. He completes the roster for the upcoming season and will be part of the squad that will travel to Sarajevo in Bosnia this weekend for a friendly tournament before returning to Dubai to resume their preparations.
“It’s a great feeling to join Dubai Basketball in their first-ever season. The roster that has been put together is very competitive and it’s a club that has great ambitions for the future. It’s a new challenge for me but one that I’m really excited about and can’t wait to play in front of our fans later this month," the 31-year-old said.
Jurica Golemac, head coach of Dubai Basketball, is delighted to see Bertans in his team.
“Davis Bertans clearly brings exceptional basketball talent to the table as an 8-season NBA player with substantial European experience. His arrival underscores the commitment and ambition of our project while also greatly enhancing the credibility of our newly established franchise,” Golemac said.
“We have had a very positive pre-season campaign to date, and even though the squad has only been together a short time I have been impressed with how quickly they have gelled and become a team with real talent and potential."
Tickets to watch Bertans and his teammates in the season opener are available from Coca-Cola Arena website with prices starting from AED 75.
Season passes can also be purchased, starting at AED 1,750 which includes reserved seating for all 15 regular season home matches.
“We now cannot wait to run out in front of our home fans at Coca-Cola Arena on September 22," said Golemac.
"Facing the reigning champions is an incredible start for us - but with the support of a packed Arena we will put in a performance everyone can be proud of.”
ALSO READ:
More news from Sports
The pair tangled while battling for third place behind winner Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc
Triple champion Verstappen's lead over Norris was cut from 62 points to 59
They exercise secretively for a modicum of health and peace of mind in a country where the Taliban have stopped women from playing sports
Batsman Sarfaraz Khan is all set to play under Rohit Sharma in the Bangladesh Test series which starts on September 19
Brentford attacked straight after kickoff and scored in 22 seconds before Erling Haaland's double secured a 2-1 win for City
‘I try to keep reminding myself to stay within the tournament because if I do well in the tournament, everything else takes care of itself,’ said the Spaniard
Investigations are still underway into Fahad Al Muwallad's fall on September 12, and the results will be shared with the relevant authorities