Dubai BC may only be a few months old, but it has already pulled off a coup. Founded this year, the UAE-based outfit has made a big splash by recruiting Davis Bertans. Team GM Dejan Kamenjasevic speaks bluntly of ” deal of the year “.
” If you look at the players who have returned from the NBA to Europe this year – Cedi Osman, Sasha Vezenkov, Evan Fournier, Usman Garuba, and now Bertans – only Davis Bertans has had a real role in the NBA. It’s a miracle because we didn’t just bring in someone who was sitting on the bench, we brought in a player who played “, judges the leader quoted by BasketNews.
While the latter would deserve a serious reminder about the NBA career of Evan Fournier, or that of Cedi Osman, the GM can congratulate himself on an acquisition that sheds light on his young club. This arrival of the Latvian, who has accumulated $80 million in NBA contracts, has generated a lot of speculation at the salary level. Speculation dismantled by Kamenjasevic.
” He played in the ABA before joining the NBA for seven seasons, where he earned millions, so he is financially comfortable. We have been saying this since the beginning, but people did not believe us. Today, players, referees and teams are beginning to see that Dubai is a legitimate and stable project “, continues the leader.
Several internationals in the team
The latter assures that the team's budget is less than 4 million euros. Even though many think we paid more to recruit Bertans. He didn't come for the money. He came for the vision and the project », insists the decision-maker of a team also made up of Nate Mason, Nemanja Dangubic, Ahmet Duverioglu, Leon Radosevic, Awudu Abass, Danilo Andjusic, Klemen Prepelic, Aleksa Uskokovic, JaCorey Williams, Bora Yasar, Thirdy Ravena.
Convince Bertans, who has thus turned his back on the Warriors, on what arguments? Trust “, ” security ” And ” stability “, because of the two or three-year contracts offered, were important words.
” Dubai is also an attractive and safe city, much closer to Europe than people think. We have built a club that wants to grow and develop, without spending too much to win titles straight away. The players have recognised that it is a solid and concrete project “, assures Dejan Kamenjasevic, convinced that Dubai has its place in European basketball, and vice versa.
The basketball world is watching.
