The Israeli Premier League is full of young people who played in it over the years and then progressed and reached the highest levels.
Josh Nibu is one of the standouts among them.
The young and athletic chin (24, 2.06 m), who landed last season at Hapoel Eilat after playing in modest colleges, and also suffered several injuries that delayed his development, soon became one of the league's stars and one of the most sought-after highs on the continent.
In the middle of last season, we announced that Milan wanted him, but the people of Eilat demanded a large sum and the deal fell through.
Later, Maccabi Tel Aviv followed him, and according to reports, it was already close to an agreement with him, but in the end he chose Zalgiris Kaunas.
The Lithuanian team started the season badly, but Nibo adapts wonderfully there, with averages of 10 points and 7 rebounds per game in the Euroleague.
"Personally, I'm doing well in the meantime," Nivo told Israel Today in a special interview ahead of his return to Israel for the first time and tonight's meeting with Maccabi Tel Aviv. "I still take everything slowly and get used to organizing for the country and the city. "A new coach, and it's hard like that at the start of the season, but we are trying to adapt and get on the train. Everything is very delicate with us and I hope we will beat Maccabi and achieve our first victory of the season. It will give us a lot of air."
In action against Olympiacos.
Was in the sights of Maccabi, Photo: IPI
A year ago, when you came to Israel from a small college, if I told you that in the summer of 2021 you would play in the Euroleague, how would you react?
"Honestly, a year ago I did not really know what a Euroleague was. I came from the United States without any understanding of what European basketball is.
It was the first time I went overseas, so I did not know what it was all about. "
A lot of young players have come to coach Ariel Beit Halachmi in recent years and then progressed to big teams in Europe. What is special about it?
"He has a great way of working with young players. He has patience, but at the same time he also pushes everyone to be the best. Last year it took me a while to adjust to basketball in Israel and Europe, but he was patient with me and on the other hand pushed me. He said. The things I needed to hear and I really appreciate him for his support. "
You had advanced negotiations with Maccabi Tel Aviv, but in the end you signed with Zalgiris. What happened there?
"It's basketball, that's how it is with negotiations - it's all a matter of agents and the desires of both sides. I do not know exactly why it did not work against Maccabi, it is a question that should be referred to my agent. I just know that the best team for me right now is Zelgiris, I'm glad I'm here. "
Did you know at the time that there was criticism in Israel about Maccabi talking to the star of another team that competes with it at the top?
"I was not aware of it. Why should there be reviews? Basketball is a business and we should all act like professionals."
In the middle of last season Milan wanted you, but the people of Eilat wanted a lot of money. Were you disappointed or did you understand them that they did not want to give up their planet?
"Like I said, basketball is a business and if I had made the jump to Milan already in my first season outside the US it would have been amazing, but Eilat did what was good for them and I didn't take it hard.
I enjoyed Eilat and I feel that I developed there very much professionally and personally, so it was not problematic for me.
They helped me have a good season and move on from there, so I'm not mad at anyone. "
Nibo in Eilat uniform, Photo: Danny Maron
"Life is more important than championships"
The thing that obscured Nivo's most successful season in Eilat was his "tap" during Operation The Wall Guard.
The club members bought him a flight ticket to Cyprus, and even arranged a hotel for him until the situation in the country calmed down, but the player was not interested in returning to Israel.
Without their knowledge, he flew from Cyprus to the United States, and from there announced that he did not intend to return. In Eilat, they were very angry about the move.
"When things like this happen, it's beyond basketball," Nibo explains for the first time of his side in the affair.
"There are bombs in the country, people are dying, and you do not know what will happen the next day, so it is difficult to think about basketball. I had no idea what would happen in Israel and I was not comfortable staying in it, because I could not concentrate on basketball. I did not want to be there. And a lot of worries, I had to make the right decision for me.
"For Israelis who are used to wars, it may be normal, but for us, as foreign players, it is really scary. It makes me feel bad and it is difficult to concentrate on basketball. You can not blame me or any other foreigner who left Israel at that time."
Some commentators say that if you had stayed, Eilat would have had a good chance of winning a historic championship.
"If at that point in time I was focused on basketball, then definitely yes, I agree. We had a good team, and a good staff that could have done beautiful things. But life is bigger than basketball. First you have to feel safe, it's much more important to describe."
At the end of the interview we went back to talking about his relatively rapid adaptation in the senior European factory, and Nibo attributes some of that to 37-year-old Paulius Inconas who has been playing in Kaunas since 2002 - with a one-year break at Moscow Khimki - and is considered a local legend.
"Paulius is one of the great leaders I have played with. It's fun to be around him, he teaches me a lot and helps me a lot to adapt to this level of the Euroleague. He is one of the best teammates I have had."
