Maccabi Tel Aviv Begins 2026/27 Season Preparations with Focus on Continuity and Defense

Maccabi Tel Aviv officially kicked off preparations for the 2026/2027 basketball season with their first group practice on Thursday. The session included players available to coach Oded Katash, while several key players were absent due to national team commitments, including Roman Sorkin, Yam Madar, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Ifa Lundberg, and Daniel Teis. Kiton Wallace is expected to join the team next Tuesday. Alongside the main roster, additional players such as Tamir Gold, Gabi Artomenko, Brandon Edwards, Rom Stoller, Nitai Dudu, Omri Shelf, and Sagi Gods participated in the training.

Coach Oded Katash expressed excitement about the season's start, emphasizing the importance of player character and continuity in building the squad. He noted that despite missing six or seven significant players, the team aims to maximize the upcoming preparation period. Katash highlighted that the coaching staff prioritized maintaining continuity and strengthening the roster with talent to meet the season's challenges.

A major highlight of the summer was the return of Bonzi Colson to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Katash praised Colson's return as a significant boost both professionally and for the fans. Colson described his homecoming as an emotional moment for him and his family and stressed the need to develop team chemistry. He identified defense, rebounding, and player communication as key areas for improvement this season. Colson also expressed eagerness for the upcoming derby against Hapoel and a match against his former team, Fenerbahce, but emphasized his primary goal is to give his all on the court.

Team captain John DiBartolomeo also commented on the season's start and Colson's return, expressing enthusiasm about the mix of returning and new players. He praised Colson's energy, aggressiveness, and leadership, looking forward to his contributions on and off the court.