Sports

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.
Some of the Jewish and Israeli 2026 Winter Olympians, from left: Noa Szollos, Quinn Hughes, A.J. Edelman, Attila Mihály Kertész and Mariia Seniuk.

Jewish and Israeli athletes to watch in the 2026 Winter Olympics

Israel will send nine athletes to Milan for the 2026 Olympic Games, its second-largest delegation at its ninth Winter Olympics.

|ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
The scene at Bloomfield Stadium was bedlam as Hapoel Tel Aviv players and fans celebrated together after the Reds earned their first derby victory over arch-rival Maccabi since 2014.

Curse is broken: Hapoel Tel Aviv’s night to remember after derby drought - comment

Over the course of these 30 contests that were sandwiched between wins, Maccabi won 25 times and drew five games as it scored 56 goals and conceded only 10.

|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

Israeli NBA player Deni Avdija scores 34 as Blazers extend Pelicans' misery

Avdija buoyed the Blazers for much of the first half, having scored almost half of Portland's points deep into the second quarter.

JANUARY 3, 2026ByREUTERS
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) during the first half at Smoothie King Center, Jan 2, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Texas Tech women's basketball team scores tallest woman in college basketball history for team

The Texas Tech athletic department didn't make the news official, but it did post a photo on its website of Stephanie Okechukwu, a 7-footer from Nigeria, palming a basketball in each hand.

JANUARY 2, 2026ByREUTERS
THE TEXAS Tech Lady Raiders bench celebrates after a play against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls during the second half at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, March 7, 2025.

Surging Maccabi Tel Aviv continues Euroleague push

In Israeli League play, Hapoel Tel Aviv blasted Hapoel Holon 114-60 as the Reds came out flying and were a team on a mission as seven players scored in double digits to sew up the blowout victory.

DECEMBER 28, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV’s Lonnie Walker rises for two of his game-high 20 points in the yellow-and-blue’s 112-87 Euroleague victory over host Partizan Belgrade.

From Toronto to Tel Aviv: Tyler Ennis is thriving in Hapoel - interview

The 31-year-old former Laker began his career in Canada before playing for the NBA and eventually joining Hapoel Tel Aviv to play in both the Euroleague and the domestic Israeli league.

DECEMBER 26, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL TEL AVIV guard Tyler Ennis, a Canadian international and former NBA player, has been a key contributor to the Reds’ strong start to the season.

Media legend Avi Meller’s death dims lights of Israel’s sporting arenas

Avi’s on-screen eloquence, even in Hebrew, was clearly shaped by his affinity for British commentators and broadcasters, and Israeli sports viewers highly appreciated it.

DECEMBER 25, 2025ByORI LEWIS
THE WRITER (right) sharing a drink and a smile with Avi Meller in the UK ambassador’s residence in Ramat Gan in 2012 at an event to promote the London Olympics.

Hapoel Tel Aviv stays atop Euroleague with road conquest of Bayern Munich

Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Bayern Munich by ten points in the match, improving the Reds’ first-place record to 13-5 on the season.

DECEMBER 24, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ELIJAH BRYANT shoots over a Bayern Munich defender during the Reds’ 82-72 road victory to improve their first-place Euroleague record to 13-5.

Beitar’s late goal shocks Maccabi Haifa at Sammy Ofer Stadium

Combined with Beersheba’s loss, Jerusalem tightens title race • Maccabi Tel Aviv draws Netanya

DECEMBER 24, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
BEITAR JERUSALEM’S Ziv Ben Shimol celebrates with coach Barak Itzhaki after he scored the game-winning goal in the 2-1 road victory over Maccabi Haifa.

Israeli sports icon Avi Meller passes away at 72 after battle with cancer

One of the most veteran and recognizable broadcasters and soccer commentators in the country, Meller was regarded as one of Israel’s leading experts on world soccer.

DECEMBER 23, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
The late Avi Meller was one of the most recognizable and beloved voices in Israeli sports broadcasting, whose passion for soccer and distinctive commentary accompanied generations of fans over decades.

High Court rules Hapoel Tel Aviv fans can wear anti-police shirts to soccer matches

The court's ruling came after hearing a petition by Hapoel Tel Aviv fans, who will be allowed to arrive at games wearing shirts bearing anti-police illustrations as soon as Saturday.

DECEMBER 20, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Police stand guard after the Israeli Premier League match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv was canceled at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, on October 19, 2025.

Maccabi Tel Aviv center Roman Sorkin continues to climb the ladder of success

The Maccabi Tel Aviv big man does it all. From scoring, dunking, blocking, and rebounding, the Minsk, Belarus-born Sorkin has continued to carve out a rise to the top.

DECEMBER 19, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ROMAN SORKIN has continued his rise as an anchor of Maccabi Tel Aviv, scoring 26 points this week during the club’s victorious, long-awaited Euroleague homecoming.