Maccabi Tel Aviv captain John Dibartolomeo is facing a difficult decision about whether to retire or continue playing, and three former teammates or coaches spoke to Sports Channel about what he should consider. The discussion comes as the 35-year-old guard has delivered a strong playoff run in the Israeli league, despite the absence of Tamir Blatt.
Former coach Luke Flukerzy praised Dibartolomeo as a rare leader who set the tone by example. He said teammates always admired him and described him as unusually humble. Flukerzy added that Dibartolomeo often felt he was not good enough, forcing coaches to push him to be more aggressive: “I could not imagine this is what he would do in his career.”
Othello Hunter recalled Dibartolomeo’s recovery from an Achilles injury, saying he came to the gym every day and worked harder than everyone else. Hunter said he once told him, “John, what are you doing?!” as he kept lifting weights and trying to return stronger. Hunter described him as someone who never led by shouting, but by showing others what to do at the right moment. He urged Dibartolomeo, if he retires, to take his time, look back, and enjoy the journey rather than rushing into what comes next.
Tarik Black said the key question is passion. In his view, Dibartolomeo could become a coach one day because of his high basketball IQ and people skills, but the decision should come down to whether he wakes up feeling the same excitement he felt when he first put on a uniform. He also noted that the veteran could stay on as a leader for younger players. On the court, Dibartolomeo is still producing at a high level, averaging 8.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in the current playoffs, shooting 40.6% from three. The article says this is his best playoff stretch since his MVP season with Maccabi Haifa in 2016/17.
