Maccabi Tel Aviv's last season was not one of the most successful in recent years, and that's putting it mildly.
In the Land of Yellows, they didn't even reach the playoff final, in the Euroleague, along with promotion to the crossover, there was a big asterisk because of the Russian teams' rejection.
Although the team built by Yad Eliyahu was one of the maligned, most of the foreigners who played in it moved to a new station in the Euroleague and are impressive so far.
Although Ante Zizic shows mediocre ability in Anadolu Efes, Keenan Evans in Zelgiris Kovna, Scotty Wilvkin in Fenerbahce, Derrick Williams in Panathinaikos and James Nunley in Partizan Belgrade started the season very well.
Perhaps the most surprising of the bunch is James Nunley who came out of last season pretty bruised, also because of things that happened off the field.
It seemed that the problematic season in Tel Aviv would do him a disservice, but he found a team in the Euroleague early in the summer and, as mentioned, fits in well. It's probably all a matter of connecting with a coach.
Nunnally.
He is doing well at Jellico, photo: EPA
The first sign and a bright red light for his problematic season in yellow was at the beginning of last season.
In early December 2021, he was involved in a violent incident in training with Yeftah Ziv.
The restlessness around him continued, and at the end of that month he was suspended and sent to train alone.
"I decided to leave Nanelli out of the squad because I think only of the best interests of the team as I see it," said coach Yannis Spropoulos.
The guard/forward was on the verge of being released from the team, but after a week and at the end of a meeting with the coach, he was returned to the squad.
Professionally, the rest of the season was similar to its beginning - many ups and downs.
Disciplinarily he was again in the headlines, when after the loss in the derby in which he was not in the squad Jaylen Reynolds and Derrick Williams were photographed hanging out very late at night.
Nunnally is frustrated in Maccabi's uniform, photo: IPA
"The problem is the management"
The season ended in a kind of disintegration, and it was clear that one of the first players the team would give up was Nunley.
The player carried great bitterness and launched an attack on Maccabi on Twitter in which he accused: "When you are not good for 8 years the problem is not the players but the management".
The affair ended not only in failure but also in an explosion.
As mentioned quite surprisingly he found a new home very quickly.
Željko Oberdović appreciates the player, and took him to Partizan Belgrade where he collaborates with Yam Medar.
Quite a few eyebrows were raised, but the Serbian master usually knows what he's doing.
Even before he signed with Partizan, during the attack on Maccabi, Nunnally mentioned Overdovich as someone who knows how to respect players, contrary to what happened at Maccabi.
The Serbian and Nanelli is a good combination.
This is the third time they have collaborated.
He played for Fenerbahce for two seasons (2016-18) and was a key player and partner in winning the Euroleague in one season, and partner in reaching the Euroleague final in the second season.
In the second term, he joined Fenerbahçe for the second half of the season about three years ago.
Nunnally.
This season against Milan, photo: EPA
Obradovic has the key to the player's heart and so far he is doing a good job.
In the Euroleague he has 11 points per game and 38 percent for three.
In the Adriatic League he scores 12 points - with no less than 63 percent for threes.
So far, the American has been an important part of the puzzle of a significant season for the Serbian club that returned to the Euroleague.
All the players will go to the match between the teams tonight with great motivation to win, but you can be sure that James Nunley will be over motivated.
What's more fun than beating the ex?
Nunnally.
Want to beat the ex, photo: EPA
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