Fresh off his Red Bull 3×3 Championship win and focused on building a professional 3×3 team, Anthony Bauer is driven by a clear ambition: to shape the future of basketball through the Morović Bauer Basketball Academy (MBBA). Drawing on his professional experience across Europe and the U.S, Bauer – alongside former EuroLeague player and partner Coach Vedran Morović – is raising the bar for skill development and mentorship in the UAE. Rooted in resilience, discipline, and elite-level training, MBBA is setting a new standard for youth basketball across the region.
What inspired you to launch the MBBA here in the UAE?
When I came to Dubai, I noticed that basketball wasn’t yet getting the spotlight it deserves. It’s a sport I’ve always loved, and I saw huge potential for it here. There are plenty of indoor facilities, a lot of young talent, and a growing interest in basketball overall. It felt like the right time to help push the sport forward in the region.
With the NBA hosting games in Abu Dhabi and the EuroLeague coming to Dubai, it’s clear that basketball here is gaining real momentum and I wanted to be part of that movement.
I’ve been working on building a professional 3×3 team for over a year now, and this win brought valuable recognition to the project.
What’s a lesson you’ve learned from starting MBBA?
One big lesson is that it takes more than just passion to start an academy in Dubai. You need to be qualified, fully committed, and ready to meet the high standards people expect in this city.
It also takes real dedication and patience. Sometimes kids don’t enjoy every part of training especially when it gets tough. But helping them push through those moments while keeping their love for the game alive is key. That’s what leads to true growth and long-term passion.
Can you tell us about the team behind MBBA and who’s played a key role in bringing it to life?
I started this project with my partner and coach, Vedran Morović. He’s a former EuroLeague player who also played college basketball in the U.S. Starting MBBA with him has been an incredible opportunity.
You can’t find this kind of quality in a person to teach your kids.
What makes him special isn’t just his basketball résumé it’s his values. The way he treats people, the resilience he built through the highs and lows of his career, and the life lessons he shares with young players in Dubai – that’s truly inspiring.
In my opinion, he’s one of the top skills coaches in the world. That’s backed up by the fact that national team players have been coming to him for years, every summer, to improve their game. Beyond basketball, he also teaches life skills which we believe are just as important.
Most importantly he is not doing this for money he’s doing it out of pure love for the game and to help the next generation grow, both on and off the court. That’s what really sets him apart in this field.
What moment most shaped your journey in basketball or at MBBA?
The most important moment in my basketball journey was starting my pro career in Croatia where I met Coach Vedran, who’s now my business partner. Back then, I had the passion and drive, but I didn’t have access to proper coaching or skills development.
He gave me a real chance to grow, develop my game, and most importantly, believe in myself. That support helped me reach the professional level in Europe, earn a scholarship to play college basketball in the U.S, and eventually represent the German 3×3 national team.
That journey shaped not only my career but also my mission. It inspired me to give back – to create something like MBBA that gives others the same kind of opportunity I once needed.
Earlier this year, you won the Red Bull 3×3 Championship. What did that achievement mean to you personally, and what key lessons did you take away?
Winning the Red Bull 3×3 Championship was a major milestone. I’ve been working on building a professional 3×3 team for over a year now, and this win brought valuable recognition to the project. Representing the UAE at the world final will be a huge honor.
The tournament reminded me that 3×3 isn’t about just one game it’s about winning five in a row. That requires real focus, resilience, and teamwork. Everyone has to stay locked in and hold each other accountable, especially when the game isn’t going smoothly.
If you could test your skills against one NBA player, who would it be and why?
This July, I’ll actually be at a tournament where Franz Wagner from the NBA will also be present so I might get my chance!
Honestly, I’d love to go 1-on-1 with him. I’m not saying I’d win but I wouldn’t back down either. I believe in myself, and I think I could give an NBA player a bit of a challenge in a 1-on-1 game.
Follow Anthony Bauer, Vedran Morović and MBBA, where every player’s journey transforms into a mission to shape the next generation of basketball talent.
