Israeli Basketball Legend Miki Berkovich Battles Dementia, Former Teammates Express Heartfelt Support

Miki Berkovich, widely regarded as Israel's greatest basketball player, has been battling dementia for the past two and a half years, a condition recently made public. Close associates revealed that Berkovich requires constant supervision and can no longer live as he once did. His former teammate Tal Brody, who won the European Champions Cup alongside him with Maccabi Tel Aviv, shared emotional memories of their daily walks and conversations, emphasizing how much he misses Berkovich in his daily life. Brody visits him weekly and described Berkovich’s awareness of his condition and his positive attitude despite the challenges.

Moti Daniel, manager of the Israeli national basketball team and a former teammate, called Berkovich a cross-sector Israeli legend whose greatness extended beyond the court. Daniel expressed deep sorrow over Berkovich’s deteriorating health and praised his enduring legacy in Israeli sports. Berkovich’s son, Roy, who also played in the Israeli Premier League, posted on social media about the family’s decision to reveal his father’s condition, highlighting the love and commitment behind it and the ongoing support from the Israeli public.

Berkovich is suffering from dementia with Lewy bodies, the second most common form of progressive dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. This condition involves protein deposits in brain cells affecting cognition, memory, and movement, and is characterized by visual hallucinations, fluctuations in alertness, and Parkinson-like symptoms such as muscle stiffness and balance difficulties. The disease is difficult to diagnose due to symptom overlap with other neurological disorders, and while there is no cure, some medications can alleviate symptoms.