The Hanukkah holiday is traditionally a landmark in the basketball season and symbolizes the end of the beginning of the season and the first round of the league, and the approach to the halfway point of the season.
Over the years they used to say about players and coaches who do not show high abilities or whose status is in doubt that "they will not come to Hanukkah to light candles" because they will finish their duties first.
To that end, we went back to the summer and early season rosters and checked who those foreigners were who didn't get to reach this stage of the season.
Josh Patton
The American center who came to Israel from the Portuguese Sporting was far from impressive and the rumors about his future started as early as the Winner Cup.
After the first 5 rounds, the confidence of his coach Rami Hadar decreased, and his numbers gradually dropped and the team began to look for a replacement for him.
After a month of searching, a replacement was signed and Patton, who averaged disappointing 4.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in five appearances, was the first outsider to be released this season.
Where is he today: Sporting, Portugal
Josh Perkins
The glittering acquisition of the summer symbolized more than anything the disappointing opening of the Gilboa/Galil season, and was released three weeks ago.
The center with the impressive resume in Europe who holds the title of the king of assists of the prestigious Gonzaga College of all time, did not fit in at Gan Ner from the first moment and his relationship with Rami Hadar was strained.
In addition to the American's lack of connection on the floor, it was also not quiet outside and the explosion between the parties was only a matter of time.
The return to Israel of London Frantz from injury led to the release of Perkins who averaged 12.9 points and 4.1 assists in 23 minutes per game.
Where he is today: Stal Ostrow, Poland
Josh Perkins.
Prants decided, photo: Maor Alxalsi
Briante Weber
Kwiniton Hawker's injury forced Bnei Herzliya to return to the market and sign a point guard for a temporary contract and the one chosen was the veteran guard with a magnificent resume in the NBA and EuroLeague.
From the moment he landed with the cup holder, the American had trouble integrating socially and professionally, he avoided playing according to his team's method and the lack of connection was obvious to all.
After only two weeks in the Holy Land, the cup holder chose not to continue the engagement between the parties and return to the market.
The American who averaged 7.5 points and 4.0 assists in only two league appearances.
Where he is today: Bojcakkameja, Turkey
Weber.
In defense, photo: Alan Shiver
Russ Smith
The veteran point guard who won the college championship with Louisville a decade ago was seen during his time in the capital of the Negev as a shadow of the player he was, did not integrate into a professional club and did not meet early expectations.
He participated in only one league game, scored 9 points and added 2 assists in 13 minutes.
Where he is today: Nardo, Italy
Ricky Pack
The guard who was the king of the baskets of the National League in the past was added to the training of Hapoel Beer Sheva/Dimona in the summer, which was looking for reinforcement for the guard positions, until he was officially added to the team.
The scorer did not participate in the team uniform in the local framework but only in the Balkan league until he received an offer from another team and was released.
Where he is today: Aris Thessaloniki, Greece
Richard Howell
The naturalized center was signed by Hapoel Haifa after a serious injury and a long period in which he did not play basketball in order to strengthen the squad of Sharon Drucker and Hapoel Haifa in the interior positions, but when he arrived in Israel it became clear that he was suffering from an injury to the meniscus and needed surgery.
After two weeks in the team and one league appearance without points in four minutes on the floor he was released.
Kenny Kadji
The 34-year-old Cameroonian midfielder was signed by the champion as the last acquisition of the summer in the hope that he would benefit from his experience and the shooting ability that characterized him for many years in many teams on the continent, but the signs of age and the lack of connection were already visible in the preparation stages and despite the desire of Guy Goodes and the need for rotation players, the veteran center/forward was released before he was found substitute.
Rumors surrounding his future in the champion started at an early stage of the preparation and already at the Winner Cup there were those who said that the relationship between the parties would not last long.
In three appearances in the league, Kadji averaged disappointing 4.3 points and 1.0 rebounds in an average of 12 minutes per game.
Where is he today: Free agent
Chris Horton
Unlike the other players on this list, the athletic midfielder left a positive impression during his time in Israel but the surprise signing of Chinano Onoaku signaled what was to come.
After several weeks of denials from the club and waiting for offers, the center was released.
In four appearances in the local framework, he averaged 13.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.3 in 21 minutes per game.
Where is he today: Kuban, Russia
Horton.
Left despite good ability, photo: Maor Alxalsi
James Young
The scorer who was a former first round pick in the NBA draft impressed professionally during his years in Israel but suffered from injuries that limited his activity.
An injury he sustained in the pre-season tournament in Eilat forced him to undergo a lengthy rehabilitation procedure and effectively removed him from the professional plans of the Reds.
After many months of searching for a team and waiting for the appropriate situation that would include a financial arrangement with his team for release, the guard-forward left Israel without playing this season.
Where he is today: Colossus Rhodes, Greece
Scott Machado
The case of the Brazilian center is different from the other members of the list and it includes an unfortunate injury that prevented him from playing at the beginning of the season.
After a few weeks, the veteran coordinator who was the first foreigner to sign a release agreement with the southerners in Israel this summer arrived and left the country without playing in the team's uniform.
Where is he today: Saratov, Russia
James Young.
He was loved in Hapoel, photo: Alan Shiver
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