Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Team Kicks Off EuroLeague Season Against ASVEL

Maccabi Tel Aviv is set to begin its 2026-27 EuroLeague campaign on Thursday at 9:45 PM local time, facing French club ASVEL at the LDLC Arena near Lyon. The team departed for France on Thursday afternoon, accompanied by dozens of fans, after completing their final practice.

All players, including the recently returned Jimmy Clark who had been sidelined with an injury, are available for coach Oded Katash, barring any last-minute changes. Katash will need to select two players who will not dress for the game, with Amit Cohen expected to be one of them. The team also welcomed back Daniel Theis, who had been dealing with an injury, and Ozzie Presser, who sustained a knock during a preseason tournament in Cyprus.

Maccabi is treating ASVEL with considerable respect, despite their roster not appearing as strong on paper. The team has studied video of ASVEL's preseason and Supercup games to prepare for the challenge. Katash acknowledged the intensity of the upcoming EuroLeague season, noting the strengthened competition and the importance of player health and the potential return of games to Israel.

"Our starting point as a roster and thanks to continuity is better," Katash stated, "but in terms of the EuroLeague, the competition has strengthened." He also expressed anticipation for seeing Tony Parker's team play. Player Ozzie Presser added, "We feel like there was a short break and we are back here again. This is our job and we are excited. It's a new opportunity, with new guys. Everyone knows what's at stake."

Historically, Maccabi has a strong record against ASVEL, having won their last ten consecutive matchups. However, ASVEL has undergone significant roster changes due to budget issues, leading to the departure of several players before the season's start. Their current lineup features American guards T.J. Washington and Tremont Waters, Australian shooter Patty Mills, and French guards Nando de Colo and Hugo Besson, among others.