47By Giorgos Adamopoulos/ gadamopoulos@eurohoops.net
The head coach of Dubai, Jurica Golemac, talked to Eurohoops about coaching challenges and how the team based in the United Arab Emirates plans to become an established EuroLeague club.
“The most important thing is that this franchise thinks long-term. They are not like a classical team that everybody thinks is going to come, spend the money, and try to win right away. It’s all about building a culture, a team, a knowledge, to get the fan base, which is very important for us to connect with the basketball community, to acknowledge them with us with the basketball, and to become a regular part of European basketball,” described the 48-year-old play-caller.
Found in 2023, Dubai entered Europe’s premier club continental competition with a three-year license, after spending the 2024-25 campaign in the AdmiralBet ABA League, under the guidance of Golemac.
“In my personal opinion, they need to be ready to expand the market, to expand to people that want to be part of it,” mentioned the former player on the growing field.
Basketball has certainly changed since he displayed his talents on the floor. Among many variations, a much more demanding schedule, especially for Dubai and long trips between EuroLeague and ABA fixtures.
“It’s a big challenge,” confirmed the Slovenian tactician, “Without any time to practice, to deal with this time stress, and there is not much time that you are going back. For now, the past is history, and then you need to think like that.”
He also talked about a ‘totally different’ individual approach between playing and coaching careers. Comparing, he noted ‘great memories’ from Greece and a ‘dream come true’ to join Panathinaikos, and named several former coaches and teammates as his inspirations, leading to his later career, switching to play-calling duties.
Asked about the ongoing NBA Europe discussions, Golemac noted his preference for the current top-tier club continental competition in Europe, but he will not be mulling over anything beyond his coaching assignment with Dubai.
“You are living for the moment, for today. The future is a mystery. So, what’s going to happen will happen. We’re going to adjust, we’re going to work, and then we’re going to think about that when the time comes,” he said.
More topics went from using analytics in coaching to his definition of success.