New Maccabi Tel Aviv Guard Kiton Wallace Impresses in Debut Despite Loss

Maccabi Tel Aviv began their preseason on Friday with an 86-84 loss to Bnei Herzliya, despite holding a 17-point lead earlier in the game. A significant bright spot for the team was the performance of new guard Kiton Wallace, who showcased considerable potential in his debut.

Wallace, playing 25 minutes, scored 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range. He also contributed 4 assists and 3 rebounds. European basketball outlets took notice, with Serbian media highlighting his excellent play and noting that Wallace is expected to fill the void left by significant player Lior Walker. They suggested his adaptation will be crucial for Maccabi this season, and his initial performance indicates he should have no trouble integrating.

BasketNews also covered Wallace's debut, describing it as a "show" that unfortunately wasn't enough to secure a win. The outlet emphasized that Maccabi Tel Aviv sees immense potential in Wallace, considered one of their key signings for the upcoming season.

Wallace, 1.90 meters tall, can play both point guard and shooting guard positions and is left-handed. He began his career at UTSA, where he excelled but went undrafted in 2021. He then played in the NBA G League, which led to a contract with the Atlanta Hawks for the past two seasons. In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 5.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 31 games, and in 2025-26, he averaged 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 53 games, shooting 37.3% from beyond the arc. Wallace is described as an athletic guard with good defensive capabilities, capable of applying ball pressure and managing the game.