Givat HaShlosha: The Change That Sparked Madar and Micić

20:50, live on SPORT5: one adjustment is bringing the most out of Hapoel Tel Aviv. Sports 5 analysis Published: 11.06.26, 18:45 Photo: Sport 5

In recent weeks, Hapoel Tel Aviv has been Yam Madar’s team. The guard, who experienced ups and downs throughout the season in Europe and in the league, stepped up a gear, beginning with 41 points in the Tel Aviv derby in the final game of the regular season. Tonight (Thursday, 21:00, live on the Sports Channel) he will try to lead his team to another win against Hapoel Jerusalem.

The final game of the regular season was only the beginning. Madar scored 20 points (7 of 9 from two-point range) in the surprising loss to Maccabi Rishon LeZion, 19 points (6 of 10 from the field) in the decisive game against them, and scored 25 points against Hapoel Jerusalem. Madar’s confidence has risen significantly, as have his percentages from beyond the arc.

Before the game against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Madar had shot 24 of 69 from beyond the arc, 30.3%. Since that game? 22 of 33, 67%, more than double. He is at 56.5% from beyond the arc in the playoffs, including 5 of 10 in the game against Hapoel Jerusalem at the Arena. That does not include 15 points in 18 minutes, and 2 of 3 from three-point range, in the first game against Hapoel Jerusalem, the one that did not reach its end and was stopped at 67:77 after three quarters.

At the same time, Hapoel Tel Aviv is Vasilije Micić’s team. The most expensive player in the history of Israeli basketball took plenty of criticism throughout the season for his approach, his weight, and more, but has reached a new level. It began with 16 points and 10 assists in the derby against Maccabi Tel Aviv, only his seventh league game of the season. In the playoffs, we have already seen him score 18 points with six assists at Beit Maccabi against Rishon LeZion, 23 in the third game, and win the second game with an outstanding play.

In the clutch moments of the season, and דווקא without the two best players of 2025/26, Elijah Bryant and Dan Oturu, who have not yet played in this series, the two guards who had been in the headlines for non-positive reasons became Hapoel’s two leading players. They are the ones who won an away derby at Menora Mivtachim Hall, the ones putting the team in the best position it has probably had to win a championship since 1969.

How did it happen דווקא now? The simple answer refers to the character of the two, among the biggest winners in the local framework, in Madar’s case, and in the European one, in Micić’s case, in recent years. There are players who simply rise in the clutch, and that is the story of the two of them, as well as of Jared Harper on the other side.

Madar’s shooting jump defies all statistical logic and begins with character, in a run of games that reminds us why he is one of the best Israeli players today. One who, rightly, is competing for the title of “the best Israeli player outside the NBA.” The same can be said about Micić, who struggled against Real Madrid and drew criticism. By the standards of our Premier League, the defense is different and he is given freedom to create, which has turned him into the main ball-handler and somewhat more free. Here too, praise can be heaped on the mentality of someone who, even in his days at Anadolu, drew criticism for his performances during large parts of the season and rose at the right time.

That is one explanation. Israeli Basketball Premier League

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