Iffe Lundberg was the standout for Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday night, leading them to a 98-102 win over Hapoel Tel Aviv in Game 2 of the Israeli league final. The Danish guard set a season high with 25 points, added 3 assists and 3 rebounds, and drew nine fouls, helping Maccabi move one win away from the championship.
While the title series is still being decided, Maccabi is already planning for next season, and Lundberg is a player it wants to retain. In conversations with club staff and teammates, he has said he enjoys being at Maccabi, feels appreciated, likes his role, and is happy living in Israel. He also said recently, in an interview before the quarterfinal series against Hapoel Beer Sheva/Dimona, that he sees himself staying with the team.
Lundberg’s season has been interrupted by injuries. He missed 19 games, first because of a calf muscle tear and later after a partial Achilles tendon tear that kept him out for more than two months and delayed his return several times. Each time he came back, he quickly regained form and became one of Maccabi’s most important players.
Coach Oded Kattash praised him after the win, saying Lundberg was a signing that helped the team greatly in a “crazy season,” and calling him mature, experienced, calm and a winner. Contract talks are expected to continue after the season, with cautious optimism at Maccabi. The main obstacle is financial, Lundberg is reportedly asking for $1.6 million per season, while Maccabi has offered $1.2 million and wants him to compromise. His recurring injuries remain a concern, but both sides still want to continue together.
