Israeli Basketball League and Players Reach Multi-Year Agreement

The Winner League, Israel's top professional basketball league, and the players' representatives have reached an agreement in principle on a multi-year deal aimed at strengthening the status of Israeli players. The accord focuses on increasing resources for player development and welfare, and ensuring more effective use of funds designated for promoting Israeli talent.

The agreement was directly negotiated between the League Management and the players' representatives, emphasizing direct dialogue as the optimal path for advancing Israeli basketball. The deal will be valid for the upcoming season and, following the publication of a ministerial outline, will extend for an additional four years.

A dedicated fund will be established to support the welfare and advancement of Israeli players. This fund will be financed, in part, by fees collected for registering ninth and tenth foreign players on league rosters. The fund's objective is to guarantee that a significant portion of the resources allocated for Israeli player development actually reaches them.

Ari Steinberg, Chairman of the Winner League Management, stated that the agreement is designed to bolster the league and Israeli basketball overall, aiming for more opportunities and development for local players while ensuring efficient use of designated funds. He acknowledged the crucial role of foreign players in maintaining the league's professional level and stressed the goal of finding a balance that supports both competitiveness and a better future for Israeli players.

Attorney Sagie Chen, representing the players, highlighted that the agreement prioritizes the well-being of Israeli basketball players and the sport itself. He noted that the deal creates significant incentives for clubs to provide more opportunities to Israeli players through financial adjustments, complementing existing incentives from the Ministry of Sport. Chen also emphasized the importance of the new fund and the improved utilization of allocated resources, thanking the League Management and the Minister of Sport for their cooperation.