Jerusalem basketball

Maccabi Tel Aviv rallies, downs Jerusalem in State Cup semis

With a 94-85 win, Maccabi Tel Aviv advanced to the State Cup final, which will take place on Thursday night. The yellow-and-blue will meet the winner of the Bnei Herzliya and Hapoel HaEmek clash.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
Maccabi Tel Aviv players celebrating.
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
BAR TIMOR (center) and the Israel national team got off to a terrible start to World Cup qualifying, dropping its record to 0-2 with a 85-71 to Croatia.

Israel falls to 0-2 with costly Croatia basketball defeat

Beit Halachmi admits the Israeli national basketball team ‘hardly practiced’ in a frustrating start to World Cup qualifying.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
AFTER FINISHING June's finals tied at 1-1 when the Iran war broke out, Hapoel Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv will duel in the season-opening Super Cup on Sunday.

Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Jerusalem face off in historic Super Cup

The Israel Basketball League will hold a Super Cup clash between beloved Israeli teams Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

Yellow-and-blue back atop Winner League

Leader Maccabi Haifa rained out vs Hadera • Beitar crushes K8 • Hap Jerusalem’s slump continues

FEBRUARY 7, 2023ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV guard Wade Baldwin rises for a dunk during the yellow-and-blue’s 81-68 victory over Hapoel Beersheba this week in Israel Winner League action

Kyrie Irving traded to Dallas Mavericks after antisemitism controversy

The Dallas Mavericks' Jewish owner Mark Cuban spoke out on Irving's antisemitism scandal last year.

FEBRUARY 6, 2023ByGABE FRIEDMAN/JTA
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, Oct 29, 2022

Familiar and fresh faces in State Cup Final Four

Jerusalem ousts Hapoel TA, to face Hapoel Haifa in Final Four • Mac TA, Ness Ziona set to duel

JANUARY 18, 2023ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV guard Lorenzo Brown goes to the basket for two of his 17 points in the yellow-and-blue’s 105-89 State Cup quarterfinal win over Bnei Herzliya.

Three wins in three games for Israeli clubs in European competition

While Maccabi Tel Aviv took care of business at home, Hapoel Holon and Hapoel Tel Aviv won on the road in impressive fashion.

JANUARY 12, 2023ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV teammates Bonzie Colson and Jalen Adams (right) combined for 51 points in the 108-104 double-overtime victory over Hapoel Haifa.

Surging Hapoel Jerusalem tames Maccabi Tel Aviv

The victory extended Jerusalem’s league winning streak to five in a row and six overall as the yellow-and-blue dropped its first domestic game of the season.

NOVEMBER 30, 2022ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL JERUSALEM guard Speedy Smith (right) had a 14-point-10-assist double-double against Jake Cohen and Maccabi Tel Aviv to lead the Reds to a 80-75 victory over the yellow-and-blue

Hapoel still finding right role for Dovrat

As Jerusalem’s season hits stride, Dzikic still playing with position to best utilize Israeli guard

NOVEMBER 1, 2022ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
Noam Dovrat showcased his skills this past summer with Israel at the Under-20 Euros. The young guard is finding his rhythm with Hapoel Jerusalem.

Basketball returns to Israel's capital: Check out local Hapoel Jerusalem

The Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team has sparked excitement in the streets of Israel's capital with events made for locals to follow their exploits and meet the team.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2022ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
UP AGAINST Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Jerusalem’s latest star draws rave reviews: Kenneth J. 'Speedy' Smith

With a reputation as a team-first guard who shines in the clutch, ‘Speedy’ Smith is looking to lift Hapoel.

JULY 13, 2022ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
KENNETH ‘Speedy’ Smith is coming off a championship in Lithuania this past season, and the American point guard recently signed with Hapoel Jerusalem.

Both semifinal series going the distance

Bnei Herzliya evens things up with Maccabi Tel Aviv • Hapoel Jerusalem rebounds to beat Hapoel Holon

MAY 31, 2022ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
KC Rivers (right) and Hapoel Jerusalem were able to pull off a season-saving 75-61 road victory over Tyrus McGree (left) and Hapoel Holon in the local semifinals.

Hapoel’s Segev returns to the Holy Land to make a big impact for his team

With a decade of professional experience in Israel and abroad, Jerusalem’s center Segev is stepping up and looking to collect as many championships and trophies as possible.

JANUARY 11, 2022ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
BIG MAN Itay Segev (right) has been instrumental in Hapoel Jerusalem overcoming its early-season struggles in the FIBA Champions League.