In an interview with Israel Today last October, Josh Nibo, the new center of Maccabi Tel Aviv, admitted that before arriving at Hapoel Eilat in 2020, he had not heard of the Euroleague. The 24-year-old American dreamed of playing in the NBA. Diaron Fox (star of the Sacramento Kings today), then joined Little St. Francis College, and from there moved to Texas A&M College to get closer to the family.
During his time in college, Nibo lifted 23 pounds and was eight inches tall - which significantly improved him as a player. Although he grew very physically he maintained the athleticism and horstility that characterized him. In his final season in the United States, Chin to the monster under the baskets, and to one of the best players at Texas College with 12.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and nearly two blocks per game.
JOSH NEBO SAYS đ
đ„ SEC pic.twitter.com/0x0TDd8EYB
- Tim England (@ tengland_150) February 1, 2020
Despite the good ability and tremendous improvement Nibo was not selected in the draft, perhaps because of the problematic size for a player in position 5 - even after the jump he made at a late age Nibo is 2.06 without shooting from half distance or off the arc, and for a chin in the best league in the world it is not enough.
Hapoel Eilat know how to identify talent and after hitting with players who were not selected in the draft, such as Jordan Lloyd and Elijah Bryant, who star in the Euroleague today, they managed to land Josh Nibo in the southern city.
It soon became clear to everyone that Eilat's new chin would not stay in the humble team for long, he turned out to be a great athlete - although he could look a bit heavy at first glance, as an excellent pick and roll player, rim protector who changes shots inside the color, and a great blocker.
He finished the season in Eilat with 13.6 points and ten rebounds per game, scoring 67% from the field - a surprising figure considering that the player broke a record in our league with an average of 3.4 rings per game.
In the hand of Elijah they wanted Nibu also the previous summer.
The wonderful ability in Israel did not go unnoticed by the scouts in Europe, Ettore Messina and Milan tried to add him but Eilat torpedoed, Olympiacos was interested, and Maccabi Tel Aviv even submitted an offer for him - but the chin chose to go to Zalgiris Kaunas.
Nibo in Hapoel Eilat uniform, Photo: Maor Elkelsi
Choose the weakest team in the Euroleague
Nibo's selection turned out to be puzzling at the end of the season, Zalgiris finished the Euroleague in last place with a balance of only 8 wins versus 20 losses, and was the weakest team in the factory.
The Lithuanians have replaced three coaches, and in the league they have not qualified for the playoff finals for the first time in 30 years.
Despite the team failures - Nibo made the leap successfully.
He received a lot of credit in Kaunas and started in the top five in 17 games out of 28 in the Euroleague.
It started with a great performance against the Red Star with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the third round, then with 12 points and 13 rebounds against Bayern Munich, and an excellent game against Maccabi here in the arena - which the professional team and quite a few fans must be weakening between Themselves and ask: "How did he escape us?"
Nibu.
An excellent game this season against Maccabi in the arena, Photo: Twitter
. @ Joshnebo finished the pick'n'roll with a furious Alley-Oop đ€
'Dunk of the Night' I @Spalding pic.twitter.com/hMqwPNpiCF
- Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) December 3, 2021
Not yet at its peak
Chin finished the season with 8.8 points per game and with 6.2 rebounds, the percentages from the field continue to be impressive - 65%, and in Elijahâs hand they decided they wanted the big man on their side.
But the Yellows have already added Alex Poiters, a player who on the page is very similar to Nivo.
Both are athletes, both are excellent defensive players (who also know how to keep guards), both play good pick and roll and finish near the ring - but also do not threaten from half distance and outside the arc, they have no back to the basket, not high relative to the position they play, and certainly That they will not complement each other.
Rest assured - Katsch and the professional staff know this, but it seems that Maccabi thinks mainly of defense, after last season the rivals celebrated against Zizic and Reynolds under the baskets - this time the Yellows chose two guards who have already proved in the Euroleague that they do not make life easy for players.
. @ Joshnebo aka the BIG wall đ«â @ bczalgiris # 7DAYSMagicMoment pic.twitter.com/Duf2w9LueT
- Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) October 21, 2021
So after missing out last summer, this season Nibo is coming to Tel Aviv for a more mature player, he made the baptism of fire in Zalgiris and gained experience in the league.
Economically, Maccabi is also about to put its hand in a much deeper pocket than it could have done last summer, but is getting a player who may be worth the sums.
Nibo has a lot more to improve - his game with his back to the basket, and the percentage from the line (67% last season in Zalgiris) are still not good enough for the level, but at only 24 - Maccabi gets a player who may be worth much more in the market in a season or two.
Nibu.
Maccabi are not ready to miss him again, Photo: Twitter
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