We are recalling all foreign players that have ever played in the League, telling about foreign championships and National teams of different countries in World basketball map project. Today we’re going to talk about basketball in Israel
Population: 9,2 mln
Players in the history of League: 4.
Full list of players: Yotam Halperin, Gal Mekel, Yuval Naimy, Afik Nissim.
First Israelis basketball players in the history of VTB United League are Yotam Halperin and Afik Nissim. In 2011/12 season Halperin was playing for Spartak (14 games, 8,9 points, 4,1 assists), and Nissim for Enisey (7 games, 5,1 points, 1,9 assists).
In 2012/13 season one of the main Triumph players was Israelis guard Yuval Naimy who spent 20 games on the court and was averaging 9,2 points (League’s Israelis players record) and 3,0 assists.
Gal Mekel is a leader in seasons (2), played games (37) and points scored (292) among players Israelis players. In February 2015 Israel National team guard moved from the NBA (Dallas and New Orlean) to Nizhny Novgorod, spending the rest of the season there, and in 2018/19 season Mekel was wearing Zenit jersey.
Basketball in Israel
League: Ligat HaAl / Basketball Premier League
Founded: in 1953
Number of teams: 12
League’s web-site: https://basket.co.il/
In Israelis championship there are 12 teams from 11 different cities. Throughout 67-year-old tournament history 7 different teams have become champions, title leader is Maccabi Tel Aviv – 53 titles.
In 2019/20 season 5 Israelis teams played in European tournaments: Maccabi Tel Aviv in Euroleague, Maccabi Rishon in Eurocup, Hapoel Jerusalem and Hapoel Holon in Champions League, and Ironi Nes Ziona in FIBA Europe Cup.
In the end of the season 7 individual awards are given: Finals MVP, regular season MVP, Best sixth player, Defensive player of the year, Most improved player, Discovery of the year and Coach of the year.
There are some ex and acting VTB League players among these awards owners: P.J. Tucker (2008), Pat Calathes (2013) and Alex Tyus were Finals MVP, P.J. Tucker (2008) and Gal Mekel (2011, 2013) were regular season MVPs, and Davon Jefferson (2009), Yuval Naimy (2011), Alex Tyus (2012) and Suleiman Braimoh (2019) were Best sixth players.
In 2019/20 season two Russian players participated in Israelis championship: Egor Kuleshov from Volgograd, played for Ironi Nahariya, and center Alexey Chubrevich, born in Komsomolskii-na-Amure, was playing for Maccabi Ashdod. Both players have Israel citizenship.
Interesting fact
In October 2005 Maccabi Tel Aviv overplayed Toronto Raptors (105:103) in a pre-season game. This is the first European team to beat an NBA team on the road.
Israel National team
FIBA rank: 41
FIBA members: since 1939
Achievements: Eurobasket silver (1979), 2 World Cup participations (1954, 1986), Olympic Games participations (1952)
Throughout 81-year history Israel National team participated in Olympic Games only once (1952, 20th place, 0 wins – 2 losses) and twice on World Cup (1954, 8th place, 2 wins – 6 losses; 1986, 7th place, 5 wins – 5 losses).
Although, Israel National team won Eurobasket silver medals in Italy in 1979. In final round the team managed to defeat Yugoslavia, Czech, Italy and Spain but lost to Soviet basketball team. USSR won though but 1979 Eurobasket MVP award was given to Israel leader Miki Berkovich.
In the 21st century the best achievement of Israel National team is 7th place on Eurobasket 2003. Besides, the team has beaten Russia (2015, 76:73), Spain (2005, 85:77), Serbia (2007,87:83), Croatia (2007, 80:85) and Italy (2011, 96:95 OT).
Nowadays, Israel National team is ranked 41st by FIBA, 21st among European teams.
The most famous Israelis players in history
Omri Casspi. First Israel-born NBA player. Casspi spent 10 season in America, in 2018 he became NBA champion as Golden State Warrior. He also has 2 Israel championship titles (2006, 2009), Israelis Cup (2006) and Best sixth player award in Israel championship (2008).
Miki Berkovich. Eurobasket 1979 MVP, 2-time Euroleague champion, 16-time Israelis champion and 12-time Israel Cup winner. In 1991 Berkovich was included in FIBA top-50 All-time players list, and in 2008 in top-50 greatest players who contributed most in Euroleague progress.
Doron Jamchi. Eurobasket 1985 top scorer (28,1 points), 11-time Israel champion and 7-time Israel Cup winner. Moreover, Jamchi is Israelis championship all-time top scorer (9611 points).
Lior Eliyahu. 2-time Israel championship MVP, 6-time Israel champion and 3-time Israel Cup winner. Eliyahu participated in Eurobasket 6 times as National team player (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017).
Tal Burstein. 2-time Euroleague champion, 11-time Israel champion and 10-time Israel Cup winner. After he retired Burstein in 2017 began his coaching career, becoming head coach assistant in Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Dmitriy Kolinov
