Basketball in Israel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In Israel, basketball is a popular sport, with a multi-tiered professional club league system, as well as men's and women's national teams.

Professional league structure[edit]

Israeli Basketball Premier League[edit]

Ligat Ha'Al or the Israeli Premier League, is the top tier level league of basketball competition in Israel, making it Israel's primary basketball competition. Ligat HaAl comprises the top twelve basketball clubs, and was founded in 1954.[1]

Liga Leumit[edit]

Liga Leumit is the second tier level league of basketball competition.

The league contains 14 clubs that compete in a home-and-away round-robin. At the end of the season, the top eight clubs advance to the play-offs. The first round is played on a best-of-three basis. The four winning clubs advance to two best-of-five playoffs, the winners of which are promoted to the Super League. The two teams that finish at the bottom of the table are relegated to Liga Artzit.

Liga Artzit[edit]

Liga Artzit is the third tier level league of basketball competition. The league contains 24 clubs (in two districts of 12 teams each one), which compete in a home-and-away round-robin. At the end of the season, the first team from each district (South/North) is promoted to the Liga Leumit. The two teams that finish at the bottom of the table are relegated to Liga Alef.[2]

Liga Alef[edit]

Liga Alef is the fourth tier in Israeli Basketball.

Liga Bet[edit]

Liga Bet is the fifth and lowest level tier in Israeli Basketball.

State Cups[edit]

Israeli Basketball State Cup[edit]

The Israeli Basketball State Cup is the second most important basketball competition in Israel, after Ligat HaAl. The tournament began in 1956, and is run by the IBA. The tournament format consists rounds each consisting of one game elimination matches.[3]

Maccabi Tel Aviv has won the most tournaments, having won 45, last winning the contest in the 2020–21 season.

Israeli Basketball National League Cup[edit]

The tournament cup for teams from the second division. tournament held since 2021.

Israeli Basketball League Cup[edit]

The Israeli Basketball League Cup is a pre-season basketball tournament held since 2006. It is held the week before the Ligat HaAl season.

Men's team title holders[edit]

Israel national basketball teams[edit]

The combined Men's and Women's basket team is ranked 55th in the world,[4] and 23rd in the Europe.[5]

Men's[edit]

The Israel national basketball team is a men's basketball team that represents Israel in international competitions.

The Israeli team has participated 28 times in the European championship tournament. Their best achievements were a silver medal in 1979, and 5th place in 1953 and 1977. Israel is currently ranked 37th in the world by FIBA,[6] and 14th in Europe (July 2014).[7] Israel will also be the host nation of the competition in 2017.[8]

Women's[edit]

The Israel women's national basketball team is a women's basketball team that represents Israel in international competitions.

The women's team is ranked 36th in the world,[9] and 16th in Europe.[10] (July 2014)

They have competed in the EuroBasket Women's tournament 6 times, but have won no metals. Their highest ever finish was 8th place in 1991.[11]

All-time participation table[edit]

Combined table of men's and women's basketball teams, both senior and youth teams. Not included two discontinued competitions: Men's U-21 World Championship (three participations in four editions) and Women's U-21 World Championship for Women (one participation in two editions). Not included either, Mediterranean Games.

Men's national teams Women's national teams
Europe
U-16 		World
U-17 		Europe
U-18 		World
U-19 		Europe
U-20 		Euro
Basket 		World
Cup 		Olympics Olympics World
Cup 		Euro
Basket 		Europe
U-20 		World
U-19 		Europe
U-18 		World
U-17 		Europe
U-16
2024 Q DNQ Q Q DNQ 2024 DNQ Q Q DNQ Q 2024
2023 13 6 DNQ 2 DNQ 2023 16 7 DNQ 12 12 2023
2022 5 DNQ 8 4 17 2022 DNQ 3 13 DNQ 3 2022
2021 DNQ DNQ 2021 DNQ DNQ 2021
2020 2020 2020
2019 11 1 DNQ 1 DNQ 2019 DNQ 5 DNQ 11 11 2019
2018 10 DNQ 9 1 2018 DNQ 6 3 DNQ 5 2018
2017 11 4 DNQ 2 21 2017 DNQ 7 DNQ 7 9 2017
2016 2 DNQ 15 12 DNQ 2016 DNQ 10 14 DNQ 4 2016
2015 15 2 DNQ 10 10 2015 DNQ DNQ 12 9 2015
2014 2 DNQ 6 7 DNQ 2014 DNQ 3 DNQ 12 2014
2013 9 5 DNQ 15 21 2013 DNQ 6 DNQ 14 6 2013
2012 6 DNQ 7 3 DNQ 2012 DNQ 6 13 DNQ 9 2012
2011 4 7 DNQ 11 13 2011 13 5 DNQ 8 13 2011
2010 15 DNQ 4 5 DNQ 2010 DNQ 6 12 DNQ 10 2010
2009 13 15 DNQ 15 15 2009 13 8 DNQ 4 13 2009
2008 11 10 10 DNQ 2008 DNQ 8 12 17 2008
2007 11 11 DNQ 6 11 2007 13 15 DNQ 6 4 2007
2006 7 11 12 DNQ 2006 DNQ 14 7 10 2006
2005 9 7 9 2005 DNQ 1 DNQ 10 9 2005
2004 11 8 2 DNQ 2004 DNQ DNQ 9 3 2004
2003 10 DNQ 7 2003 12 DNQ 2003
2002 6 10 DNQ 2002 DNQ DNQ DNQ 2002
2001 9 10 2001 DNQ DNQ DNQ 2001
2000 10 2 DNQ 2000 DNQ DNQ DNQ 2000
1999 DNQ DNQ 9 1999 DNQ DNQ 1999
1998 6 10 DNQ 1998 DNQ DNQ 1998
1997 3 9 1997 DNQ DNQ DNQ 1997
1996 DNQ 9 DNQ 1996 DNQ DNQ 1996
1995 8 DNQ 9 1995 DNQ DNQ 1995
1994 10 5 DNQ 1994 DNQ DNQ 1994
1993 8 15 1993 DNQ DNQ DNQ 1993
1992 5 4 DNQ 1992 DNQ DNQ 1992
1991 6 DNQ DNQ 1991 8 DNQ 1991
1990 DNQ DNQ 1990 DNQ DNQ 1990
1989 7 DNQ 1989 DNE DNQ DNQ 1989
1988 10 DNQ 1988 DNQ 10 1988
1987 9 DNQ 11 1987 DNE DNQ 1987
1986 DNC 7 1986 DNQ DNQ 1986
1985 7 9 1985 DNE DNQ DNQ 1985
1984 DNC DNQ 1984 DNQ DNQ DNQ 1984
1983 DNQ DNQ 6 1983 DNQ DNE DNQ 1983
1982 9 DNQ 1982 11 1982
1981 8 6 1981 DNE DNQ 1981
1980 7 DNQ 1980 DNQ DNE DNQ 1980
1979 DNQ DNQ 2 1979 DNQ DNQ 1979
1978 DNC DNQ 1978 DNE 13 1978
1977 11 5 1977 12 1977
1976 8 DNQ 1976 DNQ DNE 11 1976
1975 11 7 1975 DNQ 9 1975
1974 11 DNQ 1974 DNE 1974
1973 6 7 1973 9 1973
1972 4 DNQ 1972 DNE 1972
1971 6 11 1971 DNQ 8 1971
1970 DNC DNQ 1970 DNE 1970
1969 11 1969 8 1969
1968 7 DNQ 1968 DNE 1968
1967 8 DNQ 1967 DNQ 10 1967
1966 DNC 1966 DNE 1966
1965 6 1965 DNQ 1965
1964 DNC DNQ 1964 DNQ DNE 1964
1963 9 DNQ 1963 1963
1962 1962 DNE 1962
1961 11 1961 1961
1960 DNQ 1960 DNE 1960
1959 11 DNE 1959 DNQ 1959
1958 1958 DNE 1958
1957 DNE 1957 DNQ 1957
1956 DNQ 1956 DNE 1956
1955 DNE 1955 1955
1954 8 1954 DNE 1954
1953 5 1953 DNQ 1953
1952 20 1952 DNE 1952
1951 1951 1951
1950 DNQ 1950 11 1950
Europe
U-16 		World
U-17 		Europe
U-18 		World
U-19 		Europe
U-20 		Euro
Basket 		World
Cup 		Olympics Olympics World
Cup 		Euro
Basket 		Europe
U-20 		World
U-19 		Europe
U-18 		World
U-17 		Europe
U-16
Men's national teams Women's national teams
Legend
Champion
Runner-up
3rd place
Promoted to Division A
Demoted to Division B
In Division B
DNQ Did not qualify
DNE Did Not Enter
DNC Did not compete

Arenas[edit]

There are Seven main and Big basketball arenas in Israel which are:

Israel Basketball Association[edit]

The IBA is the official governing body of basketball in Israel. The organization oversees every aspect of the sport including:

  • Team and player registration,
  • League rules,
  • Issuing league schedules
  • Certifying match results
  • Referees and Statisticians certification, and
  • The National team.

The IBA also handles associating with international bodies such as FIBA and Euroleague Basketball (company) (who organizes the Euroleague).[12]

NBA connections[edit]

Amare Stoudemire[edit]

Amare Stoudemire, from the National Basketball Association, best known for his time with the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks, in the summer of 2013, became a major shareholder of Hapoel Jerusalem Basketball Club together with sports agent Arn Tellem and Ori Allon. The team moved into its new home, the Jerusalem Arena, in August 2014. Stoudemire, in the summer of 2014 was scheduled to conduct his first camp in Israel, in Tel Aviv. Due to Operation Protective Edge he canceled the camp on 14 July.[13] He ended up playing for Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

NBA/WNBA players from Israel[edit]

See also: List of Jews in sports § Basketball

Omri Casspi played for seven different teams over a ten-year NBA career. He was drafted 23rd overall in the 2009 NBA draft, making him the first Israeli to be selected in the first round of an NBA draft.[14]

Gal Mekel, returned to Israel in 2016 after previously playing for the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans.[15] He previously played college basketball for two years at Wichita State.[16]

Deni Avdija currently plays for the Washington Wizards.[17]

Shay Doron, in 2007 played for the New York Liberty.[18]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ LTD, Art-Up. "גם מנהלת ליגת העל בכדורסל בגביע WINNER: מכבי ת'א מחזיקת הגביע". מנהלת ליגת העל בכדורסל. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  2. ^ "ONE - מספר 1 בספורט". ONE - מספר 1 בספורט (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 2014-07-27. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  3. ^ "Israeli State Cup final: February 7, 2013 - Israel - Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL". Archived from the original on 2013-02-14.
  4. ^ "FIBA World Ranking Presented by NIKE, combined - FIBA.basketball". FIBA.basketball. Archived from the original on April 21, 2007. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  5. ^ "FIBA World Ranking Presented by NIKE, combined - FIBA.basketball". FIBA.basketball. Archived from the original on April 21, 2007. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  6. ^ "FIBA World Ranking Presented by NIKE, men - FIBA.basketball". FIBA.basketball. Archived from the original on April 27, 2007. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  7. ^ "FIBA World Ranking Presented by NIKE, men - FIBA.basketball". FIBA.basketball. Archived from the original on April 27, 2007. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  8. ^ "Finland, Israel, Romania and Turkey To Host FIBA EuroBasket 2017 - FIBA Europe". fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  9. ^ "FIBA World Ranking Presented by NIKE, women - FIBA.basketball". FIBA.basketball. Archived from the original on May 27, 2007. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  10. ^ "FIBA World Ranking Presented by NIKE, women - FIBA.basketball". FIBA.basketball. Archived from the original on May 27, 2007. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  11. ^ "Israeli Basketball, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  12. ^ "IBA Official Site". Archived from the original on 2014-07-27. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
  13. ^ "Israel Basketball Camp - Amar'e Stoudemire". Amar'e Stoudemire. 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  14. ^ "Official NBA bio of Omri Casspi | NBA.com". NBA.com. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  15. ^ "Gal Mekel". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  16. ^ "Gal Mekel - 2006-07". Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  17. ^ "Deni Avdija|Washington Wizards". NBA.com.
  18. ^ "Shay Doron went from Israel to New York to Maryland, just to play basketball". ESPN.com. 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
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