Maccabi Tel Aviv Star Bonzie Colson Declares Loyalty, Mocks Rival Hapoel

Maccabi Tel Aviv forward Bonzie Colson has stated he would "never wear red," referring to the colors of rival team Hapoel Tel Aviv, in a recent interview with Eurohoops. Colson, who returned to Maccabi this summer, expressed his strong feelings about the intense rivalry between the two clubs, calling the Tel Aviv derby the "craziest atmosphere" he has played in.

Colson recounted his journey to Europe, initially aiming for the NBA after being cut in 2019. His first European stint in Turkey was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting his return to the US. However, he remained in Europe, eventually joining Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2022, which he considers the true start of his European career. He described his initial reluctance to join Strasbourg, preferring to stay in the EuroCup or move to the EuroLeague, but ultimately embraced the challenge during the pandemic.

Reflecting on his time with Maccabi, Colson highlighted the team's playoff series against Monaco as "crazy and fun," noting the passionate support from Maccabi fans. He also addressed comments made by former player Amile Jefferson (referred to as "Amar Wainwright" in the article), who had expressed animosity towards Maccabi. Colson affirmed that the animosity between Maccabi and Hapoel is long-standing and deeply felt by both sides, citing incidents like fans throwing bottles at players' wives during his previous tenure.

Colson acknowledged Hapoel Tel Aviv's interest in signing him, expressing respect for Hapoel owner Ofer Yanai's contributions to basketball. He mentioned hearing that Yanai himself started as a Maccabi fan. He also commented on his coach, Oded Katash, describing him as calm compared to his previous coach Sarunas Jasikevicius at Fenerbahce, noting that Katash's approach allows players to understand his reactions.

Looking ahead, Colson believes Maccabi is increasing its budget to compete at a higher level, partly in response to Hapoel's recent success. He noted that Tel Aviv is not always seen as a secure place for families, but expressed optimism about the team's direction.