Israel Basketball Coach Ariel Beit Halachmi Praises Team Chemistry Between Tamir Blatt and Yam Madar

On August 19, 2026, Israel's national basketball team held its annual gala ahead of the upcoming international window, where head coach Ariel Beit Halachmi discussed the team's preparations and prospects. He highlighted the strong chemistry between star guards Tamir Blatt and Yam Madar, noting they trained extensively together and played well in the guard positions during practice. Beit Halachmi described the squad as deep and committed, expressing satisfaction with the recent training week and the players' dedication.

The coach acknowledged the challenges ahead, including a lack of home games since his tenure began and minor injuries within the roster, but emphasized the team's clear path and desire for positive results. He said the chances of qualifying for the World Championship are slim but still possible, stressing the importance of winning at least two games in the critical August window to revive their hopes. The team will have more training time than previous windows, allowing better preparation.

Beit Halachmi also addressed the youth teams' summer performance, noting they maintained their top-tier status but need to improve physically and defensively to compete at the highest levels. He mentioned that David Mozes, a promising young player, was unable to join the current window due to college commitments but is expected to join next summer as a potential future key player alongside Sorkin.

As part of their preparations, Israel will play a warm-up game against Georgia on August 23 before facing Poland on August 27 and Latvia on August 30 in Riga during the World Cup qualifiers.