A new era begins for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv with a roster featuring nine new signings and a new head coach in Oded Kattash. Not all the newcomers are new to Maccabi as forward Guy Pnini is a former club captain and won the EuroLeague with Maccabi in 2014 under David Blatt, who has also joined the front office in an advisory role, while Kattash starred for the club as a player and even served as its head coach briefly in 2007. Now, this new-look squad with links to past glory comes together with high hopes and lofty aspirations to help Maccabi challenge for glory again.
BACKCOURT
Opposing point guards had better be ready for 40 minutes of headaches when they face Maccabi, which boasts three trusted playmakers. Lorenzo Brown enters his fourth EuroLeague campaign and is known for his crafty game that breaks down defenses, leadership and tough defense. He will be joined at point guard – and sometimes play alongside – Wade Baldwin, who is also a veteran of three EuroLeague campaigns. An explosive athlete and master of the mid-range game, Baldwin has drawn the fifth-most fouls in the EuroLeague over the past two years. Team captain John DiBartolomeo begins his sixth season in Tel Aviv as a reliable backup point guard who is a pest on defense and a strong spot-up shooter. Shooting guard Darrun Hilliard has been a double-digit scorer over his previous four EuroLeague campaigns and thanks to the talent around him, may get better looks than ever this season. Austin Hollins is a top-notch on-the-ball defender and a great shooter from deep; he once made 7 threes in a EuroLeague game. Now in his second EuroLeague campaign, Iftah Ziv hopes to use his physicality to carve out a bigger role off the bench.