Dubai Basketball has appointed 2016 NBA champion Tristan Thompson as its new Global Ambassador. The Canadian veteran will leverage his championship pedigree to increase the club's international visibility and help establish Dubai as a premier global hub for elite basketball and talent.
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Dubai Basketball have announced the appointment of 2016 NBA champion Tristan Thompson as the club's new Global Ambassador.
In his new role, Thompson will help increase Dubai Basketball's international visibility through strategic partnerships, fan engagement and efforts to grow basketball culture in the UAE and abroad.
The club also plans to use Thompson's profile and NBA experience as it continues attempting to establish Dubai as a major destination for elite basketball.
"Dubai Basketball is building something that feels bigger than a team," Thompson said. "There is a real opportunity to make Dubai a global basketball hub, connecting talent, fans, and opportunity across the Middle East, Europe, and beyond."
"I am excited to support the club's journey and help build an environment where players want to come, stay, and compete at the highest level."
Tristan Thompson-Darko Rajakovic
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Tristan Thompson-Darko Rajakovic
Thompson brings NBA championship pedigree
Thompson brings more than a decade of NBA experience to the project.
The Canadian big man was the No. 4 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and spent most of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, playing a significant role on the team that came back from a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors to win the 2016 NBA championship.
He has appeared in more than 800 NBA regular-season games and averaged 8.3 points and 7.8 rebounds over his career through the 2024-25 season.
"Dubai has become a place where sport, business, culture, and opportunity are all moving at pace, at the same time," Thompson said.
Dubai continues ambitious basketball expansion
Dubai Basketball have grown rapidly since the franchise was established in 2023.
The club became the first team from the Gulf region to compete in the EuroLeague when it joined the competition for the 2025-26 season before adding an ABA League championship in its second season.
Club president Dejan Kamenjasevic believes Thompson's experience can help take the organization into another stage of its international growth.
"Tristan brings championship pedigree, global credibility, and a clear understanding of what it takes to build a winning culture," Kamenjasevic said.
"His experience as both an elite athlete and an international sports figure will be a tremendous asset as we continue to elevate Dubai Basketball, grow our international presence, and build deeper connections with the global basketball community."
Thompson's appointment becomes the latest step in Dubai Basketball's wider push to expand its profile beyond Europe and establish itself as a global basketball brand.
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