Dusko Ivanovic on Dubai team: 'We'll no longer call it the EuroLeague' / News - Basketnews.com

Ivanovic said Dubai's move would have both positives and negatives, but if the team from the UAE joins the EuroLeague, the competition's name would have to be changed since it wouldn't be a European competition anymore.

Credit: Tolga Adanali via Getty Images Credit Tolga Adanali via Getty Images

Although initial reports indicated a swift addition of Dubai's team to the EuroLeague, the shareholders' meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday were indecisive.

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The EuroLeague only announced the extension of contracts with the league's top management - President Dejan Bodiroga and CEO Paulius Motiejunas. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz's head coach, Dusko Ivanovic, has doubts about the addition of a team from the UAE, too.

"There are positive and negative things. Everything looks like they're going to play," Ivanovic said on Wednesdayvia El Correo. "If it provides quality [for the competition], it's good. But we will no longer call it the EuroLeague. We have to find another name for the competition."

Both the EuroLeague and the ABA League discussed the addition of a team from Dubai almost simultaneously, and both organizations did not come out with a clear decision.

While the Adriatic League announced its members' willingness to accept the newcomers despite a no-decision, the EuroLeague was much more vague in its statement.

Dubai team's arrival would mean an influx of money into the competitions and additional sponsorship revenue, but it has been facing backlash in basketball communities due to the lack of sports factor in the move.

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