Basketball

Israel’s basketball powerhouse: Deni Avdija’s meteoric rise to NBA stardom

Deni Avdija has become the fulcrum of Portland’s offense and one of the most productive two-way forwards in the league.

|ByASHER SMITH
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS forward Deni Avdija (8) scores a basket during the first half against Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
HAPOEL TEL AVIV'S Antonio Blakeney blocks a shot during the Reds' 112-108 overtime victory over Hapoel Beersheba in Israeli league action at Yad Eliyahu.

Hapoel Tel Aviv beats Beersheba in OT, while Jerusalem, Mac TA both take wins home

Hapoel Tel Aviv slipped by Hapoel Beersheba 112-108 in overtime to notch the tight win at Yad Eliyahu and improve its Israeli league record to 14-1 and remain in first place.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV'S Will Rayman (11) has earned an increasingly important role with the club and he was instrumental in the yellow-and-blue's 75-71 Euroleague victory over Panathinaikos.

Everyone loves Rayman after Maccabi Tel Aviv's Euroleague triumph

Above all, the player who contributed to the win over the Greeks was Will Rayman, who perhaps made the most important and critical play, a play that wasn’t even with the ball.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL TEL AVIV guard Chris Jones celebrates after scoring two of his team-high 16 points in the Reds’ 71-66 Euroleague victory over Anadolu Efes in Bulgaria.

Hapoel Tel Aviv earns Euroleague triumph

First-place Reds improve to 16-6 • Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated in Greece • Jerusalem, Holon also lose

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

Yaron Goldman and Israel’s Under-19 hoopsters stand tall in Switzerland - interview

“First of all, during a time like this, there’s even more pride and a sense of responsibility, especially since this is a World Championship,” Goldman said.

JUNE 30, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
YARON GOLDMAN, one of Israel’s rising stars, is poised to be one of the leaders of the U19 national team in its historic World Cup debut in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Jordan declines to play with Israel in U19 basketball World Cup, forfeits match

Blue-and-white athletes once again targeted by sports boycott as FIBA investigates Jordanians' decision not to play.

JUNE 29, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
THE ISRAELI Under-19 National Team opened its World Cup campaign on Saturday with a 102-77 victory over host Switzerland in Lausanne. However, Sunday's scheduled game vs Jordan seems to be in jeopardy.

Saraf and Wolf make history as Israeli back-to-back first-round picks by Nets

Brooklyn’s bold rebuild sets up first Israeli teammates in NBA history, on a franchise and city rich in Jewish culture.

JUNE 26, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
Ben Saraf (left) and Danny Wolf (right) are slated to become the first Israeli teammates in the NBA.

NBA Draft-bound 19-year-old Israeli guard Ben Saraf shines on big stage

Israeli teen sensation leads Ulm vs Bayern in German finals, strengthens case for 1st-round pick.

JUNE 23, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
BEN SARAF drives to the basket while playing for Ulm against Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga finals, which the 19-year-old Israeli hopes to win tonight ahead of the NBA Draft.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija headlines blue-and-white’s EuroBasket roster

Avdija will return to the national team for the first time since EuroBasket 2022, while former Indiana Pacers forward TJ Leaf has also been called up.

JUNE 23, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
AFTER TAKING a jump in his NBA career this past season, Deni Avdija will suit up for Israel's squad at the EuroBasket this summer.

Israel U19 basketball team heads to FIBA World Championship in Europe

Israel’s U19 basketball team overcomes hurdles to compete in the FIBA World Championship this June.

JUNE 23, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ISRAEL’S UNDER-18 National Team poses after its fourth-place finish at the 2024 EuroBasket clinched the country a spot in this year’s Under-18 World Championship.

Pair of Tel Aviv hoops clubs still finalizing Euroleague plans

Both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv will take part in Europe’s top basketball competition – a milestone moment for the country’s hoops scene.

JUNE 19, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
FOR THE first time ever, both Hapoel Tel Aviv (in red) and Maccabi Tel Aviv (in yellow) will compete in the Euroleague.

Israel basketball league admin. ends 2024/25 season without champion

Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem were tied 1-1 in the best-of-three finals when Israel launched a preemptive strike against Iran, initiating the current war.

JUNE 17, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL JERUSALEM (red) and Maccabi Tel Aviv were locked in a tight best-of-three finals, but the league opted to end the season with the series tied 1-1 due to the war.

Israeli basketball team given 24-hour ultimatum on FIBA U19 World Cup participation

Several countries have offered to host the team for training purposes, but without security clearance and logistical approval, the squad remains sidelined.

JUNE 17, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
THE ISRAEL Under-18 team celebrates in August 2024 after qualifying for this year’s U19 World Championships, a tournament that is now in jeopardy for the blue-and-white squad due to the ongoing war with Iran

The games must not go on: Iran attacks halt Israeli basketball finals, other sports

Celebrations quickly gave way to anxiety as sirens echoed across central Israel and the specter of war overshadowed the sports world.

JUNE 16, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
YAD ELIYAHU sits empty as the Israel basketball league finals remain on hold amid escalating tensions with Iran. The decisive Game 3 between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem has been indefinitely postponed due to security concerns