Dubai Basketball has strengthened its frontcourt by signing Georgian ahead Tornike Shengelia, including some of the skilled gamers in European basketball forward of the 2026-27 season.
The membership introduced Thursday that Shengelia has joined the crew after one season with FC Barcelona, the place he averaged 12.4 factors and 4.6 rebounds throughout 34 EuroLeague appearances. The two.06-meter energy ahead additionally performed 40 Liga ACB video games, averaging 11.2 factors per recreation whereas serving to Barcelona attain the Spanish League Finals.
Barcelona confirmed Shengelia’s departure on the identical day, asserting that the participant exercised his contract launch clause, reportedly near €1 million. The membership thanked him for his contribution throughout the 2025-26 season, when he appeared in 78 whole video games throughout the ACB, EuroLeague, Copa del Rey and Lliga Catalana.
Shengelia provides Dubai one other confirmed frontcourt possibility after the membership completed its first EuroLeague season with a 19-19 file, rating eleventh within the regular-season standings. Dubai was aggressive all through the marketing campaign, posting a 13-6 house file and ending simply exterior the playoff qualification locations.
The Georgian worldwide arrives with 13 seasons of EuroLeague expertise throughout 5 golf equipment. His profession consists of profitable spells with Baskonia, CSKA Moscow, Virtus Bologna and Barcelona, together with earlier stops at Valencia and Spirou Charleroi.
In the course of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season with Barcelona, Shengelia remained environment friendly as a veteran contributor. He shot 54.2% from the sphere, together with 59.2% on two-point makes an attempt, whereas including 2.7 assists per recreation. His skill to create offense from the frontcourt has been one of many defining components of his profession.
Shengelia has additionally collected vital silverware all through his European profession. He received the 2019-20 Spanish Championship with Baskonia, the 2020-21 VTB United League title with CSKA Moscow, the 2024-25 Italian Championship with Virtus Bologna and the 2023 Italian Tremendous Cup.
The 34-year-old ahead can be a two-time EuroCup champion, successful the competitors with Valencia and Virtus Bologna. He has been named EuroLeague MVP of the Spherical 9 instances, together with a standout efficiency towards Partizan when he recorded a season-high Efficiency Index Score of 42.
Dubai’s offseason has centered on including expertise and sustaining competitiveness after getting into the EuroLeague as an growth crew. The membership employed head coach Xavi Pascual and added gamers together with Elie Okobo, Davion Mintz, Mamadi Diakite, Jaron Blossomgame and middle Kevin Kokila, who was loaned out to Virtus Bologna.
