Dubai Basketball adds Australian guard Taran Armstrong to roster

Dubai Basketball adds Australian guard Taran Armstrong to roster
Australian guard Taran Armstrong has joined Dubai Basketball on a one-year deal. (SUPPLIED)
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Updated 10 October 2025
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Dubai Basketball adds Australian guard Taran Armstrong to roster

Dubai Basketball adds Australian guard Taran Armstrong to roster
  • The 23-year-old joins on a 1-year deal with an option for a second

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball has announced the signing of Australian point guard Taran Armstrong on a one-year contract, with a club option for a second year.

Armstrong most recently held a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors, under which he spent most of his time with their G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Standing at 1.96 meters, the 23-year-old Armstrong is known for his court vision, creativity, and scoring ability. He joins Dubai Basketball after strong performances in both Australia’s National Basketball League and the NBA G League.

Armstrong most recently played for the Cairns Taipans during the 2024–25 NBL season, where he averaged 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from beyond the arc.

With the Santa Cruz Warriors he recorded 11.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game.

The addition of Armstrong adds depth and playmaking strength to Dubai’s backcourt as the team continue to develop their roster and identity while making their EuroLeague debut against European giants this season.

Armstrong reportedly said recently: “I’m really excited to join Dubai Basketball and be part of this ambitious project. The club’s vision and energy are incredible, and I can’t wait to get started and help the team win.”

“Joining Dubai Basketball is a huge opportunity for me. I’m ready to work hard, learn from my teammates, and give everything for this team and the fans.”

Taran Armstrong’s signing for Dubai Basketball is a part of the club’s ongoing efforts to elevate the level of professional basketball in the UAE and the wider region.

Dubai marked the start of their EuroLeague journey at Coca-Cola Arena with a dominant win over Partizan in September.

The team will return to Coca-Cola Arena to play in front of their home crowd against EuroLeague icons FC Barcelona on Thursday, Oct. 16.


Nagelsmann backs Woltemade to shine for injury-hit Germany

Nagelsmann backs Woltemade to shine for injury-hit Germany
Updated 7 sec ago
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Nagelsmann backs Woltemade to shine for injury-hit Germany

Nagelsmann backs Woltemade to shine for injury-hit Germany
  • The Germans face Luxembourg away on Friday before returning home to take on Slovakia on Monday
  • Woltemade, 23, has only played six games for Germany since making his debut in June

BERLIN: Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann on Thursday backed Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade to lead the line for his injury-hit side in their 2026 World Cup qualification bid.
The Germans face Luxembourg away on Friday before returning home to take on Slovakia on Monday, with the latter match likely to determine who qualifies for the tournament directly.
Woltemade, 23, has only played six games for Germany since making his debut in June. He scored the winner in October’s 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland, his first Germany goal.
“Right now he’s super important because we’ve got a few players out injured in that position and because he’s a very good player,” Nagelsmann said.
“He’s in high demand for us right now because he’s doing well, he’s important in pressing, in holding onto the ball and in scoring goals.”
The 1.98-meter tall Woltemade hit the ground running in England after moving to Newcastle in the summer, scoring in four of his first five Premier League games.
“He’s scored several times already. He’s popular with the fans. He feels comfortable in the city,” Nagelsmann said.
“Right now the situation is good for Nick and good for us too.”
Captain Joshua Kimmich was on Thursday ruled out of the Luxembourg match with an ankle injury, becoming the latest to join Nagelsmann’s overcrowded casualty ward.
Bayern Munich center-back Jonathan Tah will captain Germany in Kimmich’s absence.
Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Nico Schlotterbeck, Antonio Rudiger, Niclas Fuellkrug and Tim Kleindienst are all on the injury list, while Karim Adeyemi will miss Friday’s match with a yellow card suspension.
After a surprise 2-0 loss to Slovakia in Bratislava in their opening fixture in September, Germany have steadied the ship, winning three from three.
Germany are level on points in their World Cup qualifying group with second-placed Slovakia but ahead on goal difference.
Slovakia, who host Northern Ireland on Friday, travel to Leipzig to face Germany on Monday in a match which will decide who finishes atop the Group A standings.
Regardless of Friday’s results, both Germany and Slovakia cannot qualify until Monday’s match.
Only the first-placed team is guaranteed to qualify for next year’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Luxembourg have lost four from four in World Cup qualifying, including a 4-0 loss to Germany in October.
Four-time winners Germany have never failed to qualify for a World Cup in the tournament’s history.