Basketball

Hapoel Tel Aviv evens basketball quarterfinals, Hapoel Jerusalem reaches semifinals

Vasilije Micic and Oz Blayzer lead Hapoel Tel Aviv past Maccabi Rishon 95-69, forcing a decisive third game, while Hapoel Jerusalem sweeps Hapoel HaEmek to reach the semifinals.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
VASILIJE MICIC (22) and Yam Madar helped Hapoel Tel Aviv force a decisive Game 3 against Maccabi Rishon Lezion in their quarterfinals series
Ari Steinberg_, CEO, Ashmoret

Wingate, Israel Basketball League chair talks Israeli athletes' challenges overseas

“No athlete should have to choose between representing their country and feeling safe or accepted in their sport.”

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
YAM MADAR scored 41 points and drained nine of his 10 three-pointers to lead Hapoel Tel Aviv to a commanding 115-97 derby victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Yam Madar delivers derby masterpiece as Hapoel Tel Aviv heads into playoffs red hot - comment

The game was close after the opening quarter, but that was because Madar was just warming up for what was to be a historical night for Israeli basketball.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion presents NBA star Deni Avdija with the "Jerusalem Ambassador in the Diaspora" award in New York City on May 28, 2026.

Israeli NBA star Deni Avdija presented with award during Jerusalem real estate fair in NYC

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion praised Avdija for representing the State of Israel as a public figure in the US and for bringing pride to Jews and Israelis worldwide. 

|ByMAYA ZANGER-NADIS

Iran’s supreme leader tells Eretz Nehederet he’s bored of bingeing TV in his bunker

Eretz Nehederet shifted focus from Trump to a bunker-bound Khamenei, mocking Iran-US tensions, Israeli defense systems, and domestic politics amid mounting war anxiety.

FEBRUARY 5, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN
Eretz Nehederet parodies Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, February 4, 2026.

Maccabi Tel Aviv tops Partizan at the buzzer, Hapoel continues to slump in Euroleague

Prior to the game, Maccabi Tel Aviv held a ceremony honoring Partizan for hosting the club for more than two years after the terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

FEBRUARY 4, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV guard hits the game-winning shot late in the fourth quarter of the team’s 95-93 Euroleague home victory over Partizan Belgrade at Menora Mivtachim Arena.

Deni Avdija drawn into political storm after Netanyahu’s All-Star praise

Netanyahu’s message, posted shortly after Avdija was named an All-Star reserve, read: “Every time you step onto the court, our country shines with pride.”

FEBRUARY 3, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS forward Deni Avdija, the first Israeli selected to the NBA All-Star Game, has found his historic achievement followed by online backlash after a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Why Deni Avdija’s All-Star moment feels bigger than basketball in Israel - analysis

“I’m an athlete. I don’t really get into politics, because it’s not my job. I obviously stand for my country, because that’s where I’m from,” he said in an interview last month in The New York Times.

FEBRUARY 2, 2026ByHERB KEINON
Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on January 27, 2026 in Washington, DC.

NBA star Deni Avdija becomes first Israeli chosen for All-Star game

More fans voted for the Israeli than for LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and many others.

FEBRUARY 2, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers warms up before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Moda Center on February 01, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.

Hapoel Jerusalem advances to State Cup semis as Tel Aviv clubs fall in Europe

Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv, advancing to the Israel State Cup semifinals as Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv faced defeat in Euroleague basketball games.

FEBRUARY 2, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
JARED HARPER scored a game-high 24 points to lead Hapoel Jerusalem to a 93-83 State Cup quarterfinal victory over a suddenly slumping Hapoel Tel Aviv.

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.

JANUARY 31, 2026ByASHER 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 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.

JANUARY 27, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
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.

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.

JANUARY 25, 2026ByJOSHUA 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.

Hapoel Tel Aviv earns Euroleague triumph

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

JANUARY 22, 2026ByJOSHUA 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.