Dubai makes a strong bet: Shengelia, Walkup, and Pascual for the EuroLeague

The second season of Dubai in the Euroleague begins under pressure. No other club has generated as much activity in the market or taken on as much risk in its construction. The Emirati project concludes a frenetic summer that combines significant operations, institutional friction, and the arrival of a coach with winning experience in Europe. The roster that Xavi Pascual will inherit is the most expensive he has ever managed, and there is no room for failure.

The starting point: from balance to ambition

Dubai finished its first year in the league in eleventh place with a record of 19-19, just missing out on access to the play-in. For a club without history or an established fan base, competing on equal terms in its inaugural year was a testament to credibility. However, this initial solidity did not satisfy the ambition of the project. The management decided that the next step required substantial investment, leading to the noisiest summer on the continent.

The Walkup case: when the Euroleague intervenes

The Thomas Walkup operation deserves separate analysis as it summarizes how Dubai has reached this roster. In August, Dejan Kamenjasevic, the club's general director, publicly acknowledged his interest in a player with a current contract at Olympiacos. The response from the Greek club was immediate: a formal letter accusing them of improper approach. The Euroleague opened a disciplinary procedure, and Piraeus maintained for weeks that they did not intend to yield.

Ten days later, the resistance collapsed. An agreement was reached, a multi-year contract was signed, and an official communication expressed mutual gratitude. The disciplinary case, as far as is known, remains open without resolution. It is the uncertainty that looms over the season start.

The signings: six proven level pieces

Toko Shengelia is the marquee name among the signings. The captain of Georgia, a four-time member of the Euroleague's best five, leaves Barcelona after paying around one million euros for his release clause. For a decade he has been a continental reference, and his arrival represents Dubai's commitment to elite quality. At 32 years old, Shengelia brings experience, leadership, and consistency in both phases of the game.

Thomas Walkup complements this ambition with top-level defense. He was named Best Defender in 2023-24 and is the second-highest assist provider in Olympiacos history. His addition fortifies the offensive structure that required direction and control. Both signings define the profile: they are not looking for prospects, but for established players.

From Monaco come Elie Okobo and Jaron Blossomgame, two essential pieces of the team that reached the continental final in 2025 and has now disintegrated this summer due to financial problems. Mamadi Diakite, presented as a defensive enforcer after his time at Baskonia, and Davion Mintz, coming from Wurzburg, round out a set of six signings, all with proven track records in the top European competition.

The continuity: a quality block

The remaining core is vast and very high quality. Dzanan Musa, Klemen Prepelic, Dwayne Bacon, Davis Bertans, Justin Anderson, Nemanja Dangubic, and Awudu Abass all remain in the perimeter positions. In the paint, Filip Petrusev, Mfiondu Kabengele, Mam Jaiteh, and Kenan Kamenjas continue. McKinley Wright, renewed after a solid first year, completes a structure where practically all names could be starters on mid-table teams.

The challenges: excess talent and extreme pressure

The roster has twenty high-level names, and that is precisely the most evident problem. Allocating minutes without breaking the locker room is Xavi Pascual's first job, a task not to be underestimated considering high salaries have been paid to almost all members. The Catalan coach arrives after an irregular period at Barcelona and faces the pressure of managing the most expensive investment of his career. With this budget, failing to qualify for the playoffs would be a failure.

External noise adds complexity. Dubai has become the unpopular club on the continent, and that has real sports consequences. Every visited venue will be hostile, and every refereeing decision will be viewed with suspicion. Managing that hostility is part of Pascual's job.

The disciplinary case remains unresolved, and no one knows what sanction it could entail. It is the uncertainty that hovers over the start of the season, a factor that could affect competition if the Euroleague decides to act.

The forecast: level vs. construction

On paper, Dubai is among the six or seven best teams in the Euroleague and should compete for the playoffs without question. They have talent, depth, experience, and a coach who already knows how to win in Europe. The doubt is not about the level; it’s about the construction. Assembling fifteen good players does not equal having a team, and Dubai has spent two summers buying without yet demonstrating that they know how to build. Shengelia and Walkup are quality pieces, but the real test will come when Pascual has to choose who plays and who doesn’t in the crucial moments of the season.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Dubái apuesta fuerte: Shengelia, Walkup y Pascual para la Euroliga