Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic has praised the establishment of Dubai Basketball and its entry into the Adriatic Basketball Association League, calling it a “great thing” for the sport in the Emirates.
Founded in 2023 by Abdulla Saeed Al Naboodah, Dubai Basketball is a new professional franchise that will compete in Europe’s ABA for the 2024-2025 season.
With a strong roster featuring players from various countries, including the Philippines, Turkey, the US, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Jordan, Latvia, and Italy, Dubai Basketball has made an impressive start in the league, winning both of their opening games.
Their next challenge is a home match at Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday against Serbian team Mega MIS, where Jokic began his professional career, spending three seasons before being drafted by the Denver Nuggets.
Currently in the UAE with the Nuggets for the NBA Abu Dhabi Games, Jokic has received positive feedback about Dubai Basketball.
“To be honest, I think it’s a great thing for the country and for basketball,” the 2022-2023 NBA champion told reporters at the Etihad Arena on Thursday.
“I believe basketball should and needs to expand more.
“I have some friends playing in Dubai, and they say it’s a good organization. They mention everything is perfect, so hopefully basketball can grow even more in this country.”
Jokic is in Abu Dhabi for the second time in three months, having previously visited with the Serbian national team during the summer in preparation for their Paris Olympics campaign, which resulted in a bronze medal.
An avid horse racing fan and owner of several horses, Jokic was asked if he plans to explore the equestrian scene in the UAE.
He replied: “I want to see the horses because that’s where the best horses are. I think I won’t have time, but maybe one day.”
Despite a shortened offseason due to Olympic commitments, Jokic feels optimistic about his fitness entering the new NBA season.
He stated: “We will see. The last time I played with the national team, we won the championship, so that doesn’t affect my stamina.
“Maybe I’ll be in even better shape. We’ll see when the season starts, or perhaps when it ends.”
After winning the Denver Nuggets’ first-ever NBA championship in 2023, Jokic and his teammates were eliminated in the playoffs the next season by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jokic emphasized that the early exit has had “zero” impact on his motivation for the upcoming season, adding, “last year doesn’t motivate me,” while discussing the difficulty of defending an NBA title, a feat not accomplished since the Golden State Warriors did it in 2017 and 2018.
The 29-year-old Serbian remarked: “They always say it’s tough to win a championship again, but it’s really tough to win one at all.
“After going through so many emotions from winning a championship … it felt like we didn’t have a break, and maybe we were tired, or maybe we weren’t.
“I believe we should just enjoy winning the championship because many great teams never achieve that, so we should be happy we won, and everything else is just extra.”
The Nuggets will rely on the dynamic duo of Jokic and Jamal Murray again but have also added veteran point guard Russell Westbrook and Croatian forward/center Dario Saric.
Westbrook, a former NBA MVP and nine-time All-Star, has been energetic and vocal in practice, bringing extensive experience and leadership from his 16 seasons in the league.
“He’s always positive, a great teammate both on and off the court,” Jokic said of Westbrook. “He’s been nothing short of perfect so far, and I hope he continues that throughout the season.”
The Nuggets will face reigning NBA champions the Boston Celtics in two preseason games at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, on October 4 and 6, as part of the third edition of the NBA Abu Dhabi Games.