Azerbaijani basketball club Sabah, which won the national championship last season, operated on a budget of €10 million, according to Ioannis Diamantakos, head coach of Azerbaijan's women's national basketball team.
As reported by İdman.Biz, the Greek specialist revealed the figure during an interview with EOK WebRadio, the official radio station of the Hellenic Basketball Federation. He cited Sabah as an example while discussing the financial resources and development prospects of basketball in Azerbaijan.
Diamantakos admitted that he had been pleasantly surprised by the professional organisation of basketball in the country and the scale of investment in the sport.
According to the coach, Azerbaijan is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for foreign basketball professionals, not only because of the financial opportunities available but also due to the country's serious commitment to developing the sport.
The Greek specialist also outlined an ambitious five-year programme aimed at transforming women's basketball in Azerbaijan. His current contract with the Azerbaijan Basketball Federation runs for two years, with the possibility of an extension as part of the longer-term project.
The primary objective is to significantly narrow the development gap between women's and men's basketball. The programme will focus on player development, improving the performance of youth national teams and strengthening domestic clubs.
Diamantakos identified the uneven geographical distribution of basketball activities as one of the main challenges. According to his estimates, approximately 70% of basketball activity in Azerbaijan is concentrated in Baku.
To address this imbalance, the federation plans to send specialists to the regions to identify talented young female players and establish new training centres.
The coach also expressed considerable optimism about Azerbaijan's women's 3x3 national team. He believes the team has the potential not only to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles but also to compete for a medal.
In traditional 5x5 basketball, however, the immediate priority is not achieving major international results but establishing a sustainable system for developing female players.
Diamantakos praised the Azerbaijan Basketball Federation's leadership for its willingness to implement reforms and support new initiatives. At the same time, he acknowledged that the country faces a shortage of sports halls.
While existing facilities are generally of high quality, the coach stressed that expanding basketball infrastructure would be essential for the sport's comprehensive development.
It should be noted that the reported €10 million budget for Sabah was disclosed by Diamantakos himself. The figure has not yet been independently verified through publicly available financial statements from the club.
