For Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, the character of Nikola Vujicic is an enigma.
The oldest among them, those who saw the Croatian star on the floor of the temple, still remember his youthful kindness.
However, part of the younger generation of residents of the Menorah Mittehim Hall, who only know him in his role as a professional manager, are less satisfied, and did not wipe away tears when they heard that the sports director decided to end his position at the end of the season.
Even today, almost ten years since he assumed his position and two days after he announced his departure, the character of the Croatian remains an enigma, and the essence of his role and the basis of his occupation on a daily basis is subject to questions and doubts.
There is no disputing his skills as a player and the extent of his influence as a central axis in the historic team that won titles and recorded impressive achievements, but there has been dissatisfaction with his performance in his current position in recent years.
Throughout his nine years as the professional/sporting manager of the decorated club in Israel, 'Niko' landed players that many Maccabi fans have already managed to forget, and those who haven't, they prefer to repress.
A look at the archive brings us back to five that caught our eye.
Wojciech.
The abilities as an actor are indisputable, photo: AP
5.
Kendrick Ray,
the freshest name on the list, is also probably the one who will go down in the annals of the club as the one who cleared the stage for Danny Avdia, who since that time has regularly signed up for the Euroleague game.
Ray signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv for three years, but in practice he did not receive too much credit and did not even register for the league games, before being loaned to Le La as the French coach in February.
In the Euroleague, the guard put up disappointing numbers of 4.8 points, 0.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in only 11 minutes on average per game.
In the club's official announcement about his loan to France, it is written: "When the loan period ends, he is destined to return to Tel Aviv", Ray, as stated, never returned.
Kendrick Ray.
At least he helped Danny, photo: Alan Shiver
4.
Arinze Onuaku
, according to many, the "less successful" brother of the Onuaku family.
While his brother Chinano recorded a wonderful season in Israel and won the MVP title of the league, the older brother who wore the yellow uniform did not leave a positive impression and was released after only three months from the club.
During his time at Yad Eliyahu, Arinze recorded disappointing averages of 3.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in the Euroleague.
Today, after retiring from active playing, he coaches high school basketball in the US.
Onuaku.
Let's say that the little brother impressed a little more in Israel, photo: Ami Shoman
3.
Elijah Millsap
The name of the former NBA star Paul Millsap does not need to be mentioned, but the short term of his younger brother Elijah at the hands of Eliyahu, the one that lasted only two months, is suppressed to this day in the hall.
The guard/forward who started his career in Israel at Maccabi Ashdod managed to gain a dubious reputation during the two months he spent in the southern city until the parties parted ways.
The player's worrying history did not prevent the Yellows from signing him in a move that raised question marks already in real time, and was answered with exclamation marks that the American was released after only two months due to poor professional ability and repeated disciplinary problems, such as were observed even in clubs throughout the city of Tel Aviv.
Millsap.
Remember the "good" in Tel Aviv nightclubs, photo: Alan Shiver
2.
Vitor Fabrani
, the Brazilian center who came to Maccabi Tel Aviv from the Boston Celtics of the NBA, was signed to a contract for two seasons with the team for an amount estimated at 1.2 million dollars at the time despite his medical condition.
He managed to play only two Euroleague games (21 minutes together) in which he scored 3.5 points per game, averaged one rebound and gave 0.5 assists.
He was then released from the team already in November, without registering for a single league game.
Fabrani.
We assure you that there was such a player in Eliyahu's hands, photo: EPA
1.
Ramon Sessions The
guard spent only two weeks with his glorious NBA past in Tel Aviv, he managed to play only two games in the yellow uniform, and most basketball mice in Israel will probably have a hard time remembering - but Ramon has his own page on the club's website when he played his past.
Even before the ink had dried from signing the contract, he got up and asked to leave, due to disappointment with his status in the team and its situation at the start of the season, as well as the change of coaches at the club, so it was claimed at the time.
Ramon Sessions.
One of the short novels, photo: Alan Shiver
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us