In Israeli basketball, there’s a fairly clear milestone at age 30 – a point where you’re suddenly no longer a “promising youngster” but an “experienced veteran.”
This past July, Itay Segev also crossed that point, and now he’s no longer a kid. Still, EuroBasket 2025 is his first appearance with the Israel National Team, and the excitement is high.
“I’m very excited, I really want to take part, to represent with pride. I’m doing everything I can to make that happen,” Segev began.
There’s no question that when the big man steps foot on the court in Poland and hears Hatikvah, the national anthem, it will be a very emotional moment.
“Chills. Listen, right now, part of our own flesh and blood is in hell. The entire country is in turmoil, really, there’s not much to say, so at the very least, the chance to represent in times like these, when there’s maybe some way to bring a little joy to people back home, then that’s truly the greatest honor.”
'The greatest privilege'
The team’s preparation for the championship included community outreach events with children from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, IDF veterans, and youngsters from the Druze community, which was very important for the Kfar Tavor native.
“I think it’s really, really important, because at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about. We’re here for the people, for this country. Like I said, there are people who went through trauma, who are still living it every day, and if we can help even a little, bring a bit of joy, then that’s the greatest privilege.”
Segev, Idan Zalmanson, and Roman Sorkin are all the same age and have been competing for years for the same position – center on the national team – which brings out a lot of spirit in the trio.
“There’s healthy competition, like in any place. I think competition is something very positive as it always pushes you to be a little better than you thought you could be. The three of us are good friends, and on the court we battle, but off the court we laugh and talk. So, it’s a super healthy competition.”
The 2016 Most Improved Player has seen his game develop over the years and has added various aspects to his arsenal that can help the entire team on the floor and off of it as well.
“I’m aggressive on defense and have very good rebounding ability. I think the fact that I know what I’m good at and what I’m not helps bring a lot of order to the squad. I try to bring experience and leadership in my own quiet way.”
Touching on the defensive aspect, that is certainly one of Segev’s strongest points.
“It was always really important to me to be dominant on defense. I think my physical abilities allow me to do that, and it’s something not a lot of people know how to bring to the table. There’s a saying I always use: ‘Offense sells tickets, defense wins games, and rebounding wins championships.’ So I try to focus on the last two, because I understand that when I play, it’s first and foremost for defense.”
Segev explained that this was something he needed time to accept, as when one is growing up, scoring is always emphasized.
“As a player, everyone wants to score and be in the spotlight. But as you mature, you understand that a team might have one, two, maybe three players who score, but what about everyone else? At the same time, you realize where you can truly excel. I found that niche and I’m proud of it. Every time someone scores on me, it hurts and it bothers me. I think about it for three days and try to figure out how to fix it.”
The center has played with a number of teams over the course of his career, and one of them was Maccabi Tel Aviv during Deni Avdija’s first season with the senior team, when he was just 16. Now, Avdija is starring in the NBA and is about to begin his sixth season in the world’s greatest league.
“He did some crazy things, really,” Segev said with a smile. “I don’t know if people remember how dominant he was in the Under-20 European Championship and in the youth league, and he was two years younger than everyone else. That’s insane. Once I saw him play and how he trained, I said, man, this kid is going to be amazing. Amazing.”
Segev isn’t one to fear competition. That is something that shows not only in his comments about Sorkin and Zalmanson, but also in his decision to move from Ironi Ness Ziona – a club where he had a big role and plenty of guaranteed minutes – to Hapoel Tel Aviv, where he’ll be competing with Bruno Caboclo, Johnathan Motley, Dan Oturu, and Tai Odiase.
“I wanted to get back to competing at the highest level. It’s something that burned in me a bit ever since I left Hapoel Jerusalem. Not that there wasn’t competition in Ness Ziona, but at the end of the day, I want to compete for a championship and, of course, now playing under Reds coach Dimitrios Itoudis is a dream come true.
I watched him since I was young and saw his style of basketball. I saw that Kyle Hines played under him, and he was a role model for me. So the combination of all that, for me going to Hapoel was a no-brainer. I think Hapoel Tel Aviv is the most ambitious project ever created here, and to be part of that, wow. I just want the season to start already.”
As for life after basketball, Segev has put in plenty of time thinking about what he will do – but whether it will be in the basketball realm or outside of it is an open question, as he has been working on a master’s degree in business administration.
“I think about it a lot. Will I stay in basketball? I’m not really sure. Right now, I’m kind of interested in doing something with kids through basketball. I’ve got a thousand and one ideas, but for now I’m really enjoying playing. As for the degree, in basketball our working hours aren’t super long. You’re in the gym around 5–6 hours a day.
So you’ve got a lot of recovery time, time where you’re not going to go out and do much else. Studying started for me as a kind of escape, back when I was in France during the COVID season. I felt it gave me a different kind of kick in life, a little bubble to escape the daily stress. So, if you want to, you can make time for it, and I think it gives me a safety net for the future.”
One of Segev’s biggest tests at the upcoming EuroBasket will be attempting to stop Los Angeles Lakers and Slovenia superstar Luka Doncic on the pick-and-roll.
“Not many have succeeded. But I’ll look him in the eye and try to get into his head. I want him thinking about me when they go to the pick-and-roll.”
While Segev will be playing for his eighth team in Israel, he reflected on how he has been viewed by others.
“I think for many years, people kind of enjoyed underestimating me. But one of the hobbies I developed over the years is proving the haters wrong. I took that to a super positive place because in reality I’m in the entertainment business. If people want to mock me and I give them a break from their daily troubles, whether they love me or hate me, then I’m totally fine with that. I’m so confident in what I know I can do, and part of the fun for me is also responding to haters on the court.”