Tal Dan announced his retirement just a week ago at the age of 35, after an exciting career in which he became an anchor in Israeli basketball and the greatest symbol of all time for Ness Ziona, which led him, among other things, to a historic European Cup win.
In a special conversation with "Israel Today", Dan recalled significant milestones he had during his career, moments and people he will never forget.
Your first memory in basketball
.
"Summer camp in Ness Ziona when I was 8-9 and Paul was not whistled at, so I started crying and did not want to go back to camp. My mother forced me to come back because she paid in advance."
Tal Dan and his mother are saturated.
"Prepaid",
The best player you've played with
.
"Omar Sneed. In the gap."
The best player you played against
.
"Anthony Parker."
The player you most enjoy playing with
.
"Meir Tapiro and Raz Zahbian."
The player who saved you the best
.
"Raviv Pitshon".
The hall you liked to play in the most (except for the heart of the colony).
"Toto Holon".
Tal Dan and Meir Tapiro.
Most enjoyed together, Photo: Alan Schieber
The hall you hated the most
.
"The line field in Kfar Saba. You do not know where the half is, where the penalties are, where the outside is. There are too many lines on the field."
The coach who made the most impact
.
"Sharon Karsh."
A coach you wanted to play for
and did not leave
.
"Ariel Beit Halachmi".
What would you say to Tal Dan the boy
.
"believe in yourself".
The hardest coach
.
"Brad Greenberg"
Tal discusses the European Cup final 2021. A player who is all heart, Photo: Alan Shiber
The great achievement
.
"Winning the European Cup. Easy."
The big miss
.
"Two days before the 2006 European Championships with the reserve team, I broke my palm. I was heartbroken that I did not travel. It dismantled me."
Something you regret
.
"I cried too much for the judges."
The saddest loss
.
"The loss in the semi-finals of the State Cup in 2020 to Nahariya. I felt we could win the title."
A critique that upset you
.
"Provocateur."
The funniest teammate
.
"Ido Stolro".
The best decision
.
"To stay in Ness Ziona even when we were relegated."
Brad Greenberg.
"The Hardest", Photo: Liron Moldovan
The best advice you have received. To pardon the environment
.
"it does not cost money".
A player you most wanted to play with and did not go out
.
"Joe Ragland. In his year in Eilat, I realized he was special and I really wanted him to come, but we were not close."
One thing you want to change in Israeli basketball
.
"I would like to see a lot more sabras on the hardwood."
The thing you will miss most in basketball
.
"The locker room and the excitement before a game."
Tal discusses with the European Cup last season, Photo: Champions League website
How would you like to be remembered in basketball
.
"One who never gave up."
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