The international basketball landscape just experienced a major shakeup. In a move that signals serious championship ambitions, Dubai Basketball has officially acquired Thomas Walkup from Greek powerhouse Olympiacos.

To pry the veteran floor general away from Greece, Dubai Basketball executed a contract buyout, securing Walkup on a new three-year deal.

For a franchise preparing for its inaugural run in the ABA League, this is a home-run acquisition. Walkup arrives in the UAE fresh off winning the 2025-26 EuroLeague championship. When new teams launch, the standard playbook is usually to chase fading superstars to sell tickets and generate quick headlines. Dubai is taking the exact opposite approach by bringing in a proven, battle-tested champion.

If you look at the box score, Walkup is not the player who is going to drop 25 points a night. He is the ultimate connective tissue for a winning roster. During his recent EuroLeague championship campaign, he averaged a highly efficient 5.3 points, 5.7 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 24.0 minutes per game.

Here is exactly what those numbers bring to Dubai:

• Elite Playmaking: Averaging nearly six assists in just 24 minutes in Europe shows a high-IQ floor general. He cares about running the offense properly and making the right pass.
• Championship DNA: Walkup has spent years navigating the intense, high-pressure environment of the EuroLeague. He knows exactly what it takes to win at the absolute highest level.
• Defensive Identity: He is a relentless point-of-attack defender who will instantly set the physical, hard-nosed tone for the entire roster.

From a roster construction standpoint, this is the perfect foundational piece. Walkup is not coming to Dubai to put up empty stats on a losing team. He is coming to anchor a winning culture from day one.

Leaving a reigning EuroLeague champion is a massive decision for a veteran player. Walkup’s three-year commitment directly validates the vision, infrastructure, and ambition of the Dubai Basketball project.

Dubai Basketball awaits his next game on September 18 against Real Madrid at the Euroleague Super Cup in Abu Dhabi.