Now it's official: The 22-year-old chin has joined the ranks of the champion for a period of three months, with an option to extend until the end of the season • Sapropolos: "Will help us in many things
The official announcement of Bender's signing
Photography:
Courtesy of Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv today (Sunday) signed forward Dragon Bender on a three-month contract with an option to extend until the end of the season, after landing in Israel.
Bender (22, 2.13 m) returns for a second term in Israel after playing for Raj and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the years 2014-2016.
Since then he has been selected in fourth place in the 2016 draft and has accumulated 187 games in the NBA.
He started last season at Milwaukee Bucks and then moved to Golden State where he averaged 9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 21.7 minutes in nine games.
Bender said after the signing: "Returning to Tel Aviv and Maccabi definitely feels like returning to my second home.
I want to help a club I love and use the experience I have gained over the last four years.
After talking to the coach I decided I wanted to come.
This is the opportunity to say that I hope for better times, times when we can meet the amazing fans of Maccabi again in the face-to-face arena and make them happy. "
Coach Yannis Sapropoulos added: "We are very happy to bring Dragan to the Maccabi family. Everyone knows him from his previous years at the club. For us it is very important that today he is more prepared because he comes from the NBA and is able to help the team. We are very happy for this cooperation." .
"There are a lot of things he can do to help the team," the Greek coach explained.
"We can use him as a power forward or chin, so he can play in two positions. He can create a threat inside and out and of course he can help us defensively with his big body and long arms on the rebound and blocking shots."