Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Team Kicks Off EuroLeague Season

Maccabi Tel Aviv's basketball team has begun its 2026-2027 EuroLeague campaign, departing for France on Wednesday to face ASVEL in the opening game. Coach Oded Katash expressed excitement but cautioned against premature expectations, highlighting the league's intense nature and the emergence of competitive new teams with smaller budgets. He noted ASVEL's athleticism and dangerous guards, describing their style as unfamiliar.

Katash also commented on the upcoming match against ASVEL's coach, Tony Parker, calling him a legend and expressing interest in seeing his coaching influence. Regarding his team's roster, Katash stated that all players have returned from various states of fitness, and the final selection for the game would be determined closer to tip-off. He emphasized that the team's starting point, in terms of roster depth and continuity, is stronger this season, but acknowledged that increased competition in the EuroLeague means success will depend on factors like playing games in Israel, maintaining player health, and overall team cohesion.

Addressing player Patty Mills, Katash acknowledged his impressive performances with the national team and the need for special defensive attention, while also noting that Mills' age presents potential weaknesses that Maccabi can exploit. Player Ousmane Dieng expressed enthusiasm for the new season, emphasizing the team's collective desire to win and improve with each game. He stressed the importance of playing every game as if it were a final and the team's unified commitment to their coach's vision.