Maccabi Tel Aviv's New Guard Wallace Impresses in Debut Despite Loss

Maccabi Tel Aviv's new guard, Keith "KP" Wallace, showcased significant potential in his debut game on Friday, scoring 20 points, dishing out 4 assists, and grabbing 3 rebounds in 25 minutes. Despite his strong performance, Maccabi Tel Aviv suffered an 86-84 loss to Bnei Herzliya in their preseason opener, after squandering a 17-point lead.

European basketball observers were impressed by Wallace's debut. Reports from Serbia noted his excellent play, suggesting he is well-positioned to fill the shoes of departed player Lonnie Walker. "His adaptation will be one of the most important things for Maccabi Tel Aviv this season, and at least based on his first game, it seems he will have no problem," one report stated.

BasketNews also highlighted Wallace's impressive showing, calling it a "show" that unfortunately wasn't enough for a win. The publication recognized the immense potential Maccabi Tel Aviv sees in one of its key offseason acquisitions for the upcoming season.

Wallace, a 1.90-meter guard who can play point guard and shooting guard, is left-handed. He began his college career at UTSA before playing for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA for the past two seasons. In the 2024-25 NBA season, he averaged 5.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, and in 2025-26, he averaged 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, shooting 37.3% from three-point range. He is described as an athletic point guard with good defensive capabilities, ball-pressure skills, and playmaking ability.