Daniel Theis Joins Maccabi Tel Aviv Amid Security Challenges and Past Financial Struggles

Daniel Theis, a prominent German basketball player, recently signed a two-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv after returning to Europe in 2025 following eight years in the NBA. Theis joined Maccabi after the ambitious French club Villeurbanne project, where he was supposed to sign, collapsed. He revealed in an interview with the German outlet Braunschweiger Zeitung that Maccabi quickly offered him the starting center position, which convinced him to move to Israel despite the late timing in the summer transfer window.

Theis acknowledged the security situation in Israel, explaining that Maccabi must host its EuroLeague home games in Belgrade without fans at least initially. He said the team plans to live in Tel Aviv and fly to Belgrade for games, hoping the situation improves so fans can return. He emphasized the importance of fan culture to the basketball experience and praised Maccabi's rich history and passionate supporters.

Reflecting on his recent difficult period, Theis described his time at Monaco last season, where financial sanctions against the club's owner led to players not receiving salaries for three months. This situation nearly caused players to quit, highlighting the challenges he faced before signing with Villeurbanne, which eventually fell through. Theis expressed readiness for the extensive travel that comes with playing for Maccabi under current conditions and remains hopeful for a return to normalcy during the season.