Yam Madar Signs Major Contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Team

Yam Madar, a prominent figure in Israeli basketball and a longtime symbol of Hapoel Tel Aviv, has officially signed a significant contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Madar, who developed through Hapoel Tel Aviv's youth system and played five seasons with the club, made the move on July 12, 2026, marking one of the biggest transfers in Israeli basketball history.

Madar was selected 47th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics but did not secure a contract with them. He continued to excel in the Israeli league before moving abroad to play for Partizan Belgrade under coach Željko Obradović, where he was named the EuroLeague's rising star. In 2023, he signed a three-year deal with Fenerbahçe but was released after one season due to limited playing time. He then joined Bayern Munich but was similarly released after one year.

On November 28, 2024, Madar made an emotional return to Hapoel Tel Aviv, leading the team to its first-ever European title by winning the EuroCup. However, the current season was challenging for him, as he started injured and struggled for minutes in the EuroLeague under coach Dimitris Itoudis, playing only 16 games with an average of less than 10 minutes per game. Despite a strong playoff performance in the Israeli league, Hapoel Tel Aviv lost the finals 3-1 to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Madar now hopes for a more prominent role with Maccabi in the upcoming season.