Anadolu Efes return to Istanbul on Thursday night carrying both the weight of their history and the urgency of the present as they host Dubai Basketball in a compelling EuroLeague Round 17 matchup.
Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. local time at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center, where Efes will face the UAE-based side for the first time in club history – a symbolic meeting between one of Europe’s most established basketball institutions and one of its newest arrivals.
After 16 rounds of the 2025-26 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, Anadolu Efes find themselves in unfamiliar territory.
A 6-10 record places the Navy blue-White side 16th in the 20-team standings, far from the position expected of a club that lifted the EuroLeague trophy in consecutive seasons just a few years ago.
Inconsistency, injuries and narrow losses have defined much of their campaign so far, leaving little margin for error as the season approaches its midpoint.
Still, last week offered a timely reminder of Efes’ pedigree.
Their emphatic 87-64 away win over Zalgiris Kaunas was not only one of their most complete performances of the season but also a landmark moment in club history.
That victory marked Anadolu Efes’ 500th win in European competition – a milestone that underscores decades of sustained success at the highest level.
Thursday’s game will be the club’s 892nd appearance in European tournaments.
Across 891 previous outings, Efes have recorded 500 wins and 391 losses, building a legacy that stretches from the early days of continental basketball through to the modern EuroLeague era.
Since the 2001-02 season, when the competition took its current form, Efes have been ever-present among Europe’s elite.
The Dubai matchup will be their 644th EuroLeague game, with a record of 343 wins and 300 defeats across 643 contests.
That historical context adds extra significance to a game that is already critical from a competitive standpoint.
With a 34-game regular season, teams typically need around 18 to 20 wins to secure a playoff berth.
For Efes, that reality sharpens the importance of every home game, particularly against direct rivals in the middle of the table.
Dubai Basketball arrive in Istanbul occupying 13th place with a 7-9 record, quietly putting together a respectable debut campaign in Europe’s premier club competition.
As the first team from the United Arab Emirates to compete in the EuroLeague, Dubai’s presence reflects the league’s expanding geographic ambitions.
Far from being overawed, the newcomers have shown they can compete physically and tactically, earning hard-fought victories and pushing established clubs deep into games.
Their season has been defined by adaptability and discipline, qualities that have allowed them to stay within touching distance of the play-in positions.
A road win in Istanbul would not only boost their playoff hopes but also send another strong message about their long-term ambitions in European basketball.
The setting adds another layer to the occasion.
The Turkcell Basketball Development Center, Efes’ modern home arena built on the site of the historic Abdi İpekçi Sports Hall, has become a fortress-in-progress since the club shifted its EuroLeague games there.
While smaller than the Sinan Erdem Dome, the venue offers an intense atmosphere, with fans close to the action – a factor Efes will look to exploit as they search for consistency.
