Basketball

On the record and off the court: Meet the only Jewish player on the NCAA championship team

As one of a small number of Jewish men’s basketball players in the Big Ten Conference, Hochberg reflects on the championship run, celebrating Passover during the Final Four, and antisemitism.

|ByADAM FINKEL/JTA
Harrison Hochberg, the first Jewish member of the University of Michigan basketball team to win a National Championship.
MACCABI TEL AVIV guard Lonnie Walker found his form to score a game-high 25 points in the yellow-and-blue’s 103-89 Euroleague win over Anadolu EFES.

Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Tel Aviv make crucial Euroleague wins ahead of derby

Hapoel up to 4th place in Euroleague with win over Panathinaikos • Maccabi continues late-season push for Play-In.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
CLAUDIO COLDEBELLA reflects on Maccabi Tel Aviv’s turbulent season as the club battles adversity on and off the court in its push toward the Euroleague playoffs.

Between war and wins: Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Euroleague playoff push fueled by resilience - interview

Recently, Maccabi General Manager Claudio Coldebella spoke with Giuseppe Nigro of La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy, sharing some of the successes he has experienced this season.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
OSHAE BRISSETT has been rising to the moment, delivering several clutch performances to keep Maccabi Tel Aviv firmly in the Euroleague Play-In race.

Maccabi Tel Aviv keeps Play-In hopes alive

With five games left in the Euroleague, the yellow-and-blue are within striking distance but need all hands on deck.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

Deni Avdija nears Portland Trailblazers NBA return following injury

Portland forward Deni Avdija is close to returning after missing one game with lower-back soreness, as his strong season keeps him in the All-Star conversation.

JANUARY 16, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
IN HIS sixth NBA season, Israeli forward has taken a big leap with the Portland Trail Blazers and is favored to make his first All-Star Game.

‘It’s a marathon, not a sprint’: Zalgiris, Lo eye big night vs Maccabi Tel Aviv

The Lithuanian squad was in Israel just a couple of weeks ago, and came away with a win over Hapoel Tel Aviv. It would like to replicate that success after splitting its last two Euroleague games.

JANUARY 15, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ZALGIRIS GUARD Maodo Lo (in red), a veteran of top European clubs and a regular member of the German national team, brings extensive international experience into tonight’s Euroeague matchup against host Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Iranian filmmaker Javad Ganji killed in Tehran protests, anti-regime data shows

Iranian filmmaker Javad Ganji, 39, was shot during protests in Tehran's Sadeghiyeh area, according to Hengaw and the National Council of Resistance of Iran's data.

JANUARY 14, 2026ByJAMES GENN
Iranian filmmaker Javad Ganji, believed to be killed during a protest in Tehran, in an undated picture.

Maccabi Tel Aviv defeats Hapoel Jerusalem

Hapoel Tel Aviv handles Ramat Gan • Beersheba beats Galil Elyon • Herliya downs Ness Ziona

JANUARY 12, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV teammates Roman Sorkin (left) and Oshae Brissett celebrate after a basket during their team’s 95-84 win over Hapoel Jerusalem over the weekend.

Did Washington move too soon on Avdija? Former manager Tommy Sheppard offers an answer - interview

Avdija’s first season highlighted the difficulty. An ankle injury limited him to 54 games, and according to Sheppard, that period tested his character.

JANUARY 11, 2026ByIDAN KWELLER
Deni Avdija

Built for the big moments: Carrington leads Hapoel Jerusalem’s recent surge

The naturalized Israeli is in the midst of this third season with the capital city Reds and has been nothing less than a consummate professional, one of the leaders of the team.

JANUARY 8, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
VETERAN GUARD Khadeen Carrington has become the heartbeat of Hapoel Jerusalem, delivering his biggest games when the stakes are the highest.

Hapoel Tel Aviv beats Dubai, Maccabi falls in Barcelona

Blakeney, Micic power first-place Reds against Dubai • Yellow-and-blue drops to 8-12 in Euroleague

JANUARY 7, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL TEL AVIV guard Antonio Blakeney reacts after scoring two of his game-high 25 points in the Reds’ 80-65 Euroleague rout of visiting Dubai.

Deni Avdija’s NBA leap is turning Israeli hoops into must-watch TV

JANUARY 7, 2026ByISAAC KAPLAN
Basketball.

Avdija leads, Portland believes: Triple-double and turning point in road victory over Spurs

“I think we’re improving at closing games,” Avdija explained. “Everyone is disciplined defensively, helping each other. We don’t leave anyone alone, and we go get wins together.”

JANUARY 4, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS Israeli forward Deni Avdija drives past San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet for two of his game-high 29 points – to go along with 11 rebounds and 10 assists – in the Blazers’ 115-110 road victory over the Spurs. (Daniel Dunn/Imagn Images)

Israeli NBA player Deni Avdija scores 34 as Blazers extend Pelicans' misery

Avdija buoyed the Blazers for much of the first half, having scored almost half of Portland's points deep into the second quarter.

JANUARY 3, 2026ByREUTERS
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) during the first half at Smoothie King Center, Jan 2, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.