Maccabi Tel Aviv Opens EuroLeague Season Optimistic Despite Ownership Saga

Maccabi Tel Aviv is set to begin its 2026/27 EuroLeague campaign on Thursday, hosting Villeurbanne in Lyon. After a summer filled with significant storylines, the team, accompanied by approximately 100 traveling fans, arrives in France with a sense of optimism and a feeling of a stronger starting point than in previous seasons.

Coach Oded Katash will have a full roster available, with Daniel Theis, Ozzie Presser, and J.J. Clark all recovered from injuries and participating in full practices. However, a decision is pending on whether Clark, who had a more complex injury, will be included in the game roster as a precautionary measure.

The team is looking to build on their recent derby win and first title of the season, aiming for consistency and a strong European start, a stark contrast to their poor opening last season. Key players like John DiBartolomeo, who joins after a season with the team, and newcomers Yam Madar and Kean Webb, making their EuroLeague debuts for Maccabi, are expected to integrate well. Bonzie Colson's return to a potentially more significant role is also anticipated, as is Daniel Theis, who joined Tel Aviv after financial difficulties prevented a move to Tony Parker's team.

Despite the positive outlook on the court, the club is navigating a complex off-court situation, including ongoing ownership disputes that the team is determined to keep out of the locker room. Additionally, the possibility of relocating home games from Serbia to Cyprus is being explored.

Katash expressed confidence in the team's current state, stating, "We feel we have a good roster, good chemistry, and most importantly, that we stay as healthy as possible. This will affect the course of the season and how we look in every game."