Dubai Basketball has significantly enhanced its team by securing the services of Tornike Shengelia, an experienced Georgian forward, as they prepare for the 2026-27 season. This addition brings a wealth of European basketball knowledge and skill to the club, signaling their intent to build a formidable squad.
The formal announcement from the club on Thursday confirmed Shengelia's move, following his successful stint with FC Barcelona. During his time there, he demonstrated his capabilities by averaging 12.4 points and 4.6 rebounds over 34 EuroLeague appearances. His contributions extended to 40 Liga ACB games, where he maintained an average of 11.2 points per game, playing a crucial role in Barcelona reaching the Spanish League Finals.
Barcelona acknowledged Shengelia's departure on the same day, stating that the player activated a contract release clause, reportedly valued at approximately €1 million. The club expressed gratitude for his contributions throughout the 2025-26 season, which saw him participate in a total of 78 matches across various competitions including the ACB, EuroLeague, Copa del Rey, and Lliga Catalana.
Shengelia's arrival provides Dubai with another proven option in the frontcourt. This move comes after their inaugural EuroLeague season, where the team achieved a commendable 19-19 record, finishing 11th in the regular-season standings. Despite narrowly missing the playoffs, Dubai proved highly competitive, particularly with a strong 13-6 home record.
The Georgian international brings extensive experience to the team, having accumulated 13 seasons in the EuroLeague with five different clubs. His career highlights include impactful tenures with Baskonia, CSKA Moscow, Virtus Bologna, and Barcelona, alongside earlier engagements with Valencia and Spirou Charleroi. Throughout the 2025-26 EuroLeague season with Barcelona, Shengelia maintained an impressive level of efficiency as a veteran player. He boasted a 54.2% field goal percentage, including 59.2% from two-point range, and also averaged 2.7 assists per game. His proficiency in creating offensive opportunities from the frontcourt has been a hallmark of his distinguished career.
Shengelia's career is also marked by significant championship victories in Europe. He clinched the Spanish Championship with Baskonia in 2019-20, the VTB United League title with CSKA Moscow in 2020-21, the Italian Championship with Virtus Bologna in 2024-25, and the Italian Super Cup in 2023. Additionally, he is a two-time EuroCup champion, having won the competition with both Valencia and Virtus Bologna. His individual accolades include being named EuroLeague MVP of the Round on nine occasions, with a particularly outstanding performance against Partizan, where he achieved a season-high Performance Index Rating of 42.
Dubai's offseason strategy has clearly centered on attracting experienced talent and sustaining their competitive edge following their entry into the EuroLeague as an expansion team. Under the guidance of head coach Xavi Pascual, the club has made several notable signings, including Elie Okobo, Davion Mintz, Mamadi Diakite, Jaron Blossomgame, and center Kevin Kokila, who was subsequently loaned to Virtus Bologna.
This strategic move to integrate a player of Shengelia's caliber demonstrates Dubai's commitment to building a competitive legacy in European basketball. His leadership, offensive versatility, and winning mentality are expected to be invaluable assets as the team strives for greater success in the challenging EuroLeague environment.
