Yam Madar Shines in Maccabi Tel Aviv Debut, Dominating Hapoel Tel Aviv

Yam Madar made a spectacular debut for Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, leading his new team to a commanding 89-66 victory over his former club, Hapoel Tel Aviv, in the Israeli Super Cup. The highly anticipated transfer, which saw Madar move from Hapoel to Maccabi in the summer of 2026, had been the biggest story in Israeli basketball, and his performance in this game immediately endeared him to Maccabi's fans.

Madar, who became the most expensive Israeli player in Maccabi's history, scored 13 points and dished out 7 assists with zero turnovers in the first half alone. His standout moment was an incredible buzzer-beating shot from nearly half-court just before halftime, which extended Maccabi's lead to double digits and set the tone for their second-half dominance.

His performance, described as "wonderful" and including a "crazy shot from three-quarters of the court," helped Maccabi establish a significant lead by halftime, which they then extended after the break. Teammates like Oz Blayzer and John Dibartolomeo also contributed to the celebratory atmosphere as Maccabi secured a decisive win over their city rivals.

The game marked Madar's first official match for Maccabi against Hapoel since his dramatic summer transfer, just three months after losing to Maccabi in the league finals. His immediate impact suggests he has seamlessly integrated into his new team.