Article by David Istrate – Published Thursday, November 13, 2025 7:18 p.m. / Updated Thursday, November 13, 2025 7:42 p.m.
Matt Ryan (28 years old), former NBA player, signed a contract with Dubai Basketball, a team that plays in the Euroleague and the Adriatic League, being in the same group as U-BT Cluj-Napoca. The basketball native from New York has an impressive life story, going from being a gardener and delivery boy to playing in the biggest basketball league in the world.
Born on April 17, 1997, Matt Ryan played for 3 universities: Notre Dame (2015-2017), Vanderbilt (2018-2019) and Chattanooga (2019-2020). After the last year of college, the plans of the 1.98 meter athlete were confused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Matt Ryan, gardener at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Yonkers: “That was a difficult time”
Ryan was not selected in the NBA, did not have the opportunity to play in the summer league, and reprofiled for the time being, working as a gardener in the Saint Joseph Cemetery in Yonkers. He was to cut the grass, gather the branches, sweep away the leaves, and put fresh earth beside the graves.
In parallel, to raise money, Ryan worked for DoorDash and UberEats and coached a junior high basketball team. At the end of the day, he would train at a local gym for 4 hours, trying to keep his dream of becoming a professional basketball player achievable.
“That whole period was difficult. I can't fully express it. It was very, very difficult going to the gym not knowing if I was going to play again,” the athlete told The Athletic.
After a year off, Ryan received an opportunity from the Cleveland Cavaliers to play in the NBA Summer League. Due to his solid performance (11.3 points), he signed with the Denver Nuggets, but the contract was terminated before the start of the season.
🎥 Every angle of Matt Ryan's buzzer-beater to force OT! pic.twitter.com/YKPIZ5laht
— NBA (@NBA) November 3, 2022
Matt Ryan made it to the NBA and will now play in the Euroleague: “It's crazy”
He played a few months in the G League, with the Grand Rapids Gold, and then was signed by the Boston Celtics, a team that would qualify for the NBA Finals at the end of the 2021-2022 season.
“Three universities in 5 years. I've been on the fence for a year and a half. And have a chance to win a championship ring the next year? It's crazy. I was ready to be on the other side of the world playing in god knows what league. The way the planets aligned, there must be God,” Ryan said in 2022.
Experiences at other NBA groups followed (Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks), the 28-year-old player collecting 83 games in the North American basketball league.
In the end, Matt Ryan chose to continue his career “on the other side of the world” and, This week, he signed with Dubai Basketballa group that evolves in the Euroleague and the ABA League.
The United Arab Emirates side have a record of 4-6 in the Euroleague, occupying the 15th position. On the other hand, in the ABA League, Dubai Basketball is doing much better, being the only undefeated team: 6-0 and 1st place in group A.
The team coached by Jurica Golemac is in the same group as U-BT Cluj-Napoca, the two already playing in Dubai. The hosts won 81-77, but the Romanian champions can get their revenge on January 17, in BTarena.
