On June 20, Tomer Ginat published the sentence on social networks: "Love never fails", and in fact informed Hapoel Tel Aviv fans that he chooses to join the team, after a long and publicized debate between the Reds and Maccabi Tel Aviv - the main rival.
This was the opening shot for the summer in which basketball and the Israeli player will provide quite a few headlines and interesting transitions.
Leading blue-white basketball players decided to leave their teams and embark on new paths, changing the balance of power in the top league.
"Israel Hayom" introduces you to the new Israeli symbols of the clubs in Israel, and to the roles assigned to them in their new teams.
Tomer Ginat, 27, moved from Paris Metropolitans to Hapoel Tel Aviv.
For many years, no Israeli basketball player was able to generate interest around him as the forward did last summer.
From the moment it became clear that he would not continue playing in Paris, one of the best tall players who played in the league in recent years became the target of the leading teams in Israel.
He comes to Hapoel Tel Aviv in a unique position and with a lot of expectations.
After receiving an unprecedented contract in a team built around him, in order not to disappoint the player will have to provide much more than good numbers - which he is likely to give as he has done in the past.
In the drive there are no expectations from Ginat to bring achievements to Hapoel Tel Aviv, both in Israel and in the European arena, where the Reds will play in the Eurocup.
Tomer Ginat
The expectations are in the sky, photo: Alan Shiver
With a quality Israeli squad, which includes Bar Timur and Idan Zalmanson, the Reds this year have a real chance to be one of the best teams in the country - and if you ask the fans at the Drive In, they can't wait.
Much of this will rest on Tomer's shoulders.
Rafi Manko, 28, moved from Hapoel Holon to Maccabi Tel Aviv
after winning the first championship in his career with Hapoel Holon, the 28-year-old Manko decided to take a significant step and signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv, thanks in large part to the arrival of Oded Ketch, with whom he is very close from the days together in the national team.
The forward provided a great final season and was a central part of the purples' championship and the great European tour.
He comes to Maccabi as the senior Israeli in the squad along with Roman Sorkin, will be very significant in the league and will also get minutes in the Euroleague.
Rafi Manko.
Ketch will give him a real chance, photo: Alan Shiver
For him, this is the great opportunity to make the leap and become a leading Israeli player in Europe.
In recent years, very few Israelis have managed to stand out in Maccabi Tel Aviv, but it seems that Manko will get a real opportunity from Katesh, and if he takes it with both hands, he will be able to buy his world.
Shawn Dawson, 28, moved from Bnei Herzliya to Hapoel Holon.
After three seasons in Hovantod in Dalona, in which he suffered from injuries and a lot of bad luck, the Israeli forward returned to Bnei Herzliya - the same team he left.
After a bad start to the season, Dawson managed to get into the rhythm of the excellent team cohesion built by Oren Aharoni, and was part of the club's great achievements this season.
In the final of the State Cup, he again proved that he is a man of big games (he also did it in the championship of Maccabi Rishon Lezion), when he provided important baskets in money time and led the team to the title.
However, Dawson suffered throughout the season from the instability that has always characterized him.
Sean Dawson.
You need to maintain stability, photo: Danny Maron
It is possible that it reaches Hapoel Holon by default.
Everyone knows that the goals of the Purples in the Israeli market were Nimrod Levy and Gabi Tchachashvili, and after the negotiations with the former fell through, the champion decided to sign Dawson, who was the top available Israeli.
He will step into the shoes of Rafi Manko, and emerges as the leading Israeli of the champion and as a quintet player.
Oz Blazer, 29, moved from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Hapoel Jerusalem
after two years in the yellow uniform of Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he knew a lot of ups and downs, gained European experience and also proved in our league that he has a lot to give, Oz Blazer is leaving Maccabi Tel Aviv and joining Hapoel Jerusalem As the first acquisition of Aleksandar Džikić in the summer.
His last season was actually the worst in his career, but not necessarily because of the ability he displayed.
He was pushed into Maccabi's rotation and got few minutes at the end of the season, even though he provided some good games before that.
Oz Blazer.
No longer a supporting actor, photo: Alan Shiver
The role assigned to the 29-year-old forward in the capital is completely different from the one he had in Eliyahu's hand, when he played as a supplementary player.
Together with Noam Dovarat, Blazer will be one of the leading Israelis and will get a lot of minutes.
If he manages to reproduce the ability we saw from him for episodes in the last two seasons, Jerusalem will gain a very good player at the league level.
In an interview with Israel Hayom, he said: "I have always loved playing in the arena, because I get energy from the crowd", and Blazer is indeed a player of momentum and energy - is he on his way to becoming a crowd favorite in Jerusalem?
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