Maccabi Tel Aviv Can Dream: Major EuroLeague Comebacks

Maccabi Tel Aviv faces Panathinaikos in Athens on Friday night, aiming for their first EuroLeague victory this season to avoid a disappointing 0-3 record. Many fans view the team's losses to seemingly weaker opponents, Villeurbanne and Besiktas, as a bad omen, especially after failing to reach the playoffs for the past two seasons and spending significant time at the bottom of the standings. Hopes for a relevant season have been dampened by this start, leading many to believe there will be no change this year.

However, the history of the current EuroLeague format shows numerous teams that began their seasons poorly, even disastrously, and managed to turn their campaigns around. In the 2018-19 season, Zalgiris, under coach Sarunas Jasikevicius, started with only one win after six rounds and was in a complete collapse with a 7-13 record after 20 rounds. Despite this, they finished the regular season strongly, winning their last six games to achieve a 15-15 record and secure the final playoff spot, leaving Maccabi Tel Aviv out.

Anadolu Efes also experienced a difficult start in the 2020-21 season, beginning with a 3-1 record and holding a negative 9-8 record at the season's midpoint, despite a strong roster including Vasilije Micić. The team turned its season around in the second half, finishing third and eventually winning their first EuroLeague title. The following season, 2021-22, Anadolu Efes started even worse, losing their first five games. However, with players like Micić and Shane Larkin, they recovered, climbed the standings to sixth place, and went on to win their second consecutive EuroLeague championship.

In the 2023-24 season, Panathinaikos, with high expectations, had a very poor start, winning only once in four games and twice in six. Their response was signing Kendrick Nunn, which revitalized the team. They climbed to second place by the end of the regular season. In the playoffs, they faced Maccabi Tel Aviv, who led the series 2-1 and were one win away from the Final Four. Panathinaikos ultimately won the series 3-2, advanced to the Final Four, and secured the championship.