Despite the negative results in recent months, the current squad of the Israeli national team, which reached the European Championship, is considered one of the most talented we have ever had.
Tamir Blatt and Yuval Sussman are coming to the tournament after a good season in the Euroleague team (Alba Berlin), Tomer Ginat is finishing two great years in a top team in France (Metropolitan 92) which led Maccabi Tel to make him a high financial offer, and it's been a long time since we've had a talented interior player like Roman Sorkin, which will continue for a second season at the Menorah-Movathim Hall.
Jacob Meir, Prague
Above them all, of course, are the two great talents, Dani Avdia and Yam Medar.
The former is considered perhaps the most talented player to ever emerge in Israeli basketball and in the last two years has become a legitimate NBA player for the Washington Wizards, and the latter has found his place in Partizan Belgrade of the great Zeljko Obradovic, and in the coming season he will take his first steps in the Euroleague, the second best league in the world.
The two are the same age.
Medar was born less than two weeks before Avdia emerged into the world.
In recent years, they have become good friends, especially since winning the European Championship with the reserve team in Tel Aviv in 2019. They have remained in good contact even in the last two years, when each of them set out on their own challenge.
"Their connection on the field and off the field is really special," says coach Guy Goodes.
"They are young, talented, who grew up together and really enjoy playing the game together."
Goodes is right, the two are happy to be with each other, on and off the field.
Just a few weeks ago, they both sat down to perform in duet Eyal Golan's "When Another Time", in a video that went viral on the networks.
By the way, Madar sings more beautifully, at least in our opinion.
Guy Goodes
A lot on the shoulders, photo: Alan Shiver
"The burden of proof is on us, we'll have to do a better job"
"Me and Li have a special bond, we went through a lot together and were there for each other even in difficult moments. He was always my partner and my friend," Avdia explains the connection.
Madar agrees: "We are very good friends from a young age and have a special bond. We really like and enjoy playing together, and we see it on the field. We have a natural and real connection."
On Sunday this week against Sweden at the Shlomo Group Hall, the place where the two together swept Israel to win the European Under-20 Championship, only Madar showed his abilities, while Avdia showed a weak ability.
"The onus of proof is on us. We will have to play against high-level players and do a better job," said a Partizan player after one of the last training sessions in Prague.
Jacob Meir, Prague
Even in the corridors of the O2 arena in Prague, most of the focus around the Israeli team is centered on the two talented players who have made a good name for themselves in European basketball in recent years.
One of the Serbian journalists who came to the championship says: "Naturally we follow both of them. Abdija has Serbian roots and he is also your only player in the NBA, and Madar plays for Partizan Belgrade, so his performance at this level is very interesting, especially before the Euroleague season that awaits Partizan."
Moti Daniel: "In the end you have to win on the field"
As far as the last games are concerned, it still doesn't seem that the combination between Avdia and Madar is leading the Israeli national team to brilliant and winning basketball.
On the contrary, when the two talented players are on the floor, sometimes the game is based on individual abilities and a lot of isolations and less on planned and elegant team play.
Against Auburn College it worked well most of the time, in the other games less so.
The game against Sweden was a reflection of the entire preparation period.
Avdia joined training late and even then missed some of it due to illness.
In most games he seems stressed and not connected to the flow of the team and even received criticism.
Medar, on the other hand, is one of the few in the team who shows good ability both in defense and attack.
Moti Daniel, photography: Alan Shiver
"In the end, you have to win on the field. They have to come and show what they know on the field. It's a very difficult tournament. They're both young and talented guys and I hope they and the team have a good week," team manager Motti Daniel told us during training in Prague.
can make a difference
Until less than a year ago, the Basketball Association dreamed that the current squad would lead us to the Eurobasket quarterfinals, for the first time since Yotam Halperin, Meir Tapiro and Tal Burstein did it in Sweden 2003, and to the World Championship for the first time since 1986. The disappointing results in the last six months lowered expectations, and now a respectable performance and reaching the round of 16 will be accepted with satisfaction.
Avdia and Madar, together and separately, could be the ones to make the difference between failure and success.
The first test - already today at 15:00 against Finland, one of the direct rivals for the tickets to the round of 16.
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