Miki Berkovich's Family Reveals His Battle with Severe Dementia

Miki Berkovich, the Israeli basketball legend and Israel Prize laureate, has been battling a severe form of dementia in recent years, his family disclosed in the documentary "Miki's Last Shot" aired on August 24, 2026. After keeping his condition private for a long time, Berkovich's wife, Shelly, and their three children opened up about his struggle with Lewy body dementia, a particularly challenging subtype that affects brain cells and leads to cognitive decline.

Shelly described the diagnosis as one of the toughest diseases, while their son Niv explained how the illness causes memory loss and other symptoms. Berkovich initially denied the severity of his condition, maintaining an optimistic outlook, but his family noticed a growing darkness in his eyes. Their son Roy expressed the pain of seeing their father change, saying, "You see that he is no longer the dad who raised you, same face and body but different soul." Daughter Adi, living in the U.S., embraced her father's optimistic motto, "Make lemonade out of lemons," and said the family tries to stay positive as he would want.

The first signs appeared during the COVID-19 pandemic when Berkovich complained of vision problems, such as flickering and difficulty reading, though medical tests showed no eye issues. His family noticed odd behaviors, including disorientation during a surprise 70th birthday trip to New York in 2024, where he mistook locations and seemed unsure of his surroundings. Adi recalled a difficult walk in New York when her father was uncertain it was the city and overwhelmed by the crowd, marking a poignant moment of realization that he was no longer the same man.

The documentary sheds light on the personal and emotional challenges faced by one of Israel's greatest sports figures and his family as they navigate this difficult journey together.