Israel Basketball Team Manager Blames NBA Insurance for Avdija's Absence

The Israeli national basketball team's chance to qualify for the World Championship has ended after a loss to Latvia. Team manager Motti Daniel expressed disappointment with the campaign's outcome, stating that the team had higher expectations but faced numerous challenges.

Daniel addressed the absence of key players, including NBA stars Deni Avdija, Dani Wolf, and Ben Sharf. He explained that NBA teams refused to release the players, citing concerns over insurance coverage. Specifically, Daniel revealed that if Avdija were to play and re-injure himself from a previous season's injury, he would not be insured, which prevented his participation. Daniel emphasized that Avdija himself wanted to play for Israel but was bound by his team's decision and the insurance issue.

Despite the setbacks, Daniel maintained that the team's morale and camaraderie remained strong. He acknowledged that the squad was not at its full potential throughout the campaign but refrained from assigning blame, attributing the situation to accumulated difficulties rather than deliberate actions. He noted that the team has been aware of these issues for a long time.

Looking ahead, Daniel reflected on the importance of having the strongest possible roster, suggesting that national team participation should be a national priority. He concluded that without a full-strength team, expecting miraculous results was unrealistic.