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2023-24 Roster Rundown: Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

2023-24 Roster Rundown: Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

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14 September 20235 Mins read

2023-24 Roster Rundown: Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv has not been to the Final Four since it last won the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague crown in 2014. The decade-long drought is the longest the club has endured since the Final Four was adopted by the EuroLeague in 1988. Maccabi came close last season when it took AS Monaco to five games in the playoffs and led in the fourth quarter before coming up short. Coach Oded Kattash is back this season with most of last season's stars and their goal is nothing short of leading an army of fans in yellow to the German capital to play for the title this season.

BACKCOURT

No argument about the best guard tandem in the league can take place without discussing Lorenzo Brown and Wade Baldwin. The two were both named to the All-EuroLeague Team last season; they were the only two guard teammates on the team. Baldwin is the better scorer of the two and Brown is more of a playmaker, but they can and often do reverse those roles, which is what makes them so dangerous.

Team captain John DiBartolomeo enters his seventh EuroLeague campaign and over that time has performed a key role as a three-and-D player who can also handle the ball. Tamir Blatt, the son of former EuroLeague-winning head coach David Blatt, joined the team this summer and will be the main playmaker off the bench.

The reigning two-time Australian League defensive player of the year, swingman Antonius Cleveland will make his EuroLeague debut this season. Cleveland is more than just an elite defender though and his athleticism and aggressiveness when attacking the rim could be a major asset for Maccabi. Small forward Rafi Menco returns after making 22 appearances as a EuroLeague rookie last season to provide defense and energy off the bench.

FRONTCOURT

Bonzie Colson impressed many last season, his first in the competition. Though he played mostly small forward, Colson is big and strong enough to play at the "four" when Coach Kattash wants to run with a smaller lineup. His mix of strong outside shooting and a nose for rebounding ensure that Colson is a constant mismatch threat. The same can be said of James Webb, who joined Maccabi after his rookie season with Valencia Basket. Webb, however, is more likely to play the "four" and "five" spots, where his outside shooting on offense and ability to fight in the paint on defense is an intriguing tool.

Jake Cohen stepped into the starting lineup last season when Alex Poythress was injured and ended up setting career highs in minutes plays, rebounds and assists. The skills he displayed will ensure that he continues to play an important role in his age 33 season. Meanwhile, Roman Sorkin has continued to improve throughout his two seasons with Maccabi and has been a true difference-maker off the bench at both ends.

Josh Nebo started 33 games for Maccabi at center and the high-flyer is back as a force in the paint, where he frustrates opponents and thrills Maccabi fans alike with his alley-oop slams and blocked shots. Another signing from Valencia, Jaisel Rivero will give the team a different look and type of scoring threat in the paint. Thanks to Nebo, Rivero and Sorkin, Maccabi should be among the best offensive-rebounding teams around.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Maccabi has eight players back from last season and among its new faces, only one lacks EuroLeague experience. What Antonius Cleveland doesn't lack, however, is EuroLeague-level talent. He should be able to easily carve out a role for himself from the start thanks to his stellar defense. It's on the other end of the court where it will be determined how high Cleveland can soar. His athleticism will ensure that he can be a force in transition, but with Maccabi's great playmakers, Cleveland must be able to knock down open threes to take his game – and the Maccabi attack – to the next level. That is why Cleveland is a player to watch this season.

OUTLOOK

History has shown that continuity is always a major plus for title contenders and Maccabi has leaned into that. How quickly the handful of new players adjusts to the game plan will affect how quickly Maccabi comes out of the gate. On paper, Maccabi has a team that can go far. It is also a very hungry one; no active player has ever been to the Final Four. Will 2024 be the year that changes?