Israeli Basketball Stars Yam Madar and Tamir Blatt Set to Sign Record-Breaking Contracts

Israeli basketball players Yam Madar and Tamir Blatt are poised to sign some of the highest contracts ever seen for Israeli athletes playing domestically. Madar is expected to sign a three-year deal with an option for two additional years worth $2 million per season with Maccabi Tel Aviv, while Blatt will sign a three-year contract worth $1.6 million per season with Hapoel Jerusalem. These contracts surpass previous salary records in Israeli sports, including the highest football contract in Israel.

Previously, Eran Zahavi held the top football salary record after returning from the Netherlands, earning 1.2 million euros per season with Maccabi Tel Aviv for two years before reducing his salary. Even when converting the euro to dollars at the time, Madar and Blatt’s upcoming contracts exceed Zahavi’s earnings for a single season.

In Israeli basketball, Madar’s new contract will be the highest ever for a player competing in Israel, surpassing his own previous record of $1.9 million per season with Hapoel Jerusalem. The current top five highest contracts for Israeli basketball players in Israel are: Madar’s $2 million per season with Maccabi, Madar’s previous $1.9 million with Hapoel, Blatt’s $1.6 million with Hapoel, Omri Casspi’s approximately $1 million with Maccabi, and Roman Sorkin’s $900,000 with Maccabi.

These signings mark a significant financial milestone in Israeli basketball, highlighting the sport’s growing domestic market and the increasing value of top Israeli players within the national league.