Maccabi Tel Aviv increasingly expects Lundberg to stay after strong finish

Maccabi Tel Aviv returned from its EuroLeague season to resume domestic play, while also pushing talks with several players on new contracts. Jalen Hoard and Jimmy Clark have already signed fresh deals, and the next major decision is whether Danish guard Iffe Lundberg will do the same.

Lundberg arrived in early November, after Maccabi’s first choice, Nick Calathes, went to Partizan. He came in injured, initially angering the club, but was allowed to recover. His first game was supposed to be coach Oded Katash’s last, in a heavy loss to Milan in Belgrade, but Katash stayed and Lundberg soon became a central figure. Katash praised him, saying, “He adds calm, fits the team like a glove.”

Between rounds 20 and 28, Lundberg was at his best, averaging 13.1 points and 4 assists, helping Maccabi stay in the playoff race. In mid-February, however, he suffered a partial Achilles tendon tear in a win over Bayern Munich, and Maccabi later missed the EuroLeague play-in. A club source said it had once seemed unrealistic that he would continue, not only because of money but because he was injured again. Lundberg nevertheless finished strongly, averaging 14.2 points over nine games, and the club now believes he can lead them in the league final against Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Negotiations have centered on a salary demand of about $1.5 million per season, which Maccabi viewed as high, especially given his injury history over the past two seasons. The club is also trying to strengthen the guard rotation, with Dibi Barthelomeu expected to stay, a new guard likely to replace Jeff Dowtin, and the injured Tamir Blatt possibly the odd man out. For now, Maccabi says it wants Lundberg back, but nothing is final until a contract is signed.