1 Sean Dawson returns to Israel and Bnei Herzliya, as first published yesterday on the "Israel Today" website, to rekindle his career after some disappointing seasons full of injuries.
At 27, the guard-forward is looking for the right place, where he can take off again and return to the enormous ability and expectations he had until just 4-3 years ago.
It may seem like it did a long time ago, but only five years ago he was a key screw in Maccabi Rishon LeZion's historic championship win, and immediately afterwards was called to the New Orleans Pelicans training camp in an attempt to fulfill the big dream of his life - to play in the NBA.
He later moved to Bnei Herzliya, with whom he finished as the Israeli king of baskets with an average of 16.2 points per game.
At the time, he was considered one of the most prominent Israelis, and came to his senses with a prestigious signing in the summer of 2018 at Juventud in the Spanish Dalona.
Dawson made a strong start to his tenure in the best league in Europe and seemed to be on the right track, but then came injuries that sidelined him for extended periods.
One time he was badly injured in the knee, the second time he tore the Achilles tendon, and another time he probably came back too soon.
"I just crashed, I felt terrible," he said in the past.
Dawson in the Israeli national team uniform.
Return to the local swamp // Danny Maron,
The Spaniards expressed confidence in him and his abilities and renewed his contract twice, although he contributed almost nothing, until last summer, after just 52 games in three seasons, they too gave up.
2 Since the conversation with Badalona people a few months ago, in which he realized that he was not continuing, Dawson was looking for the next stop, the right team to get back on track.
Several teams in Israel searched, but the player preferred to find a team abroad. At the beginning of the summer, he stayed in Israel and trained at the training facility of Maccabi Rishon LeZion together with other Israeli players.
In recent weeks he has traveled to the US and worked intensively with a personal trainer to get ready for the upcoming season.
Bnei Herzliya chairman Eldad Akunis, who has been in contact with Dawson since his time at the club, and coach Oren Aharoni, who also has a good relationship with the player, spoke with him and said they were willing to wait for him. Will give them priority in Israel.In recent days, when Dawson realized he was not finding a good team in Europe, contacts with Herzliya were accelerated and with the approval of professional manager Zofi Abdia who is abroad, the deal was signed.
The coming season will be one of the most important crossroads in one of the most fascinating careers in Israeli basketball in the last decade.
If Dawson manages to maintain full fitness and show even 70 percent of the ability he displayed before the injuries in Spain, he will be one of the best Israeli players in the league and one of the hot names in the years to come.
On the negative scenario we prefer not to think.
Dawson.
Opportunity to restart your career, IP
Herzliya believes in the new acquisition, and thinks he can be one of the dominant players in the team and the leader of the young Israeli team that was built this year.
"We believe he can return to his fitness from the past," says Aharoni, "he has already returned to good fitness. We believe he can lead and help us the status of a senior Israeli."
3 In recent years, Bnei Herzliya has suffered severe professional inferiority.
In 2018/19 it was relegated, the following season it barely returned to the Premier League and last season it was relegated at the last minute.
She is now trying to change direction.
Oren Aharoni, who has done a great job in the youth department of Maccabi Tel Aviv in the last decade and also in the youth team, has been appointed head coach. Very, and in the future probably another foreign guard will come.
But Dawson is supposed to be the icing on the cake.
"I arrive hungry and full of motivation for the upcoming season in order to lead the club back to the top of Israeli basketball," he concluded.
