The latest Turkish Airlines EuroLeague team to get their training camp underway is Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, which had its first training session of preseason on Thursday, August 24. Unlike many of the other squads in the EuroLeague, Maccabi does not have any players competing at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, meaning that head coach Oded Kattash has all of his players available, injuries permitting.
Maccabi begins training camp at full strength
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One Maccabi player who was expected to be at the World Cup was Spain's Lorenzo Brown, but he took the decision not to compete in the tournament in order to let an injury heal that he picked up during last summer's EuroBasket. He was, however, one of those who took part in Friday's training session. Maccabi fans will also be glad to hear that new signings Tamir Blatt, Jasiel Rivero, James Webb and Antonius Cleveland all took part in the session with their new team.
Last season saw Maccabi secure the fifth seed entering the postseason following a 20-14 regular-season record, which included going 15-2 at home, but it lost in the playoffs to AS Monaco after a thrilling five-game series. Maccabi made several signings during the last offseason, including Brown, Wade Baldwin and Bonzie Colson, and they have the chance to build on their impressive performances as they enter their second year in Tel Aviv.
The hope for everyone involved at Maccabi is that the team can take another step forward and reach the EuroLeague Final Four, having last got there in the 2013-14 season, 10 years ago. That year, curiously, is when Maccabi last became the EuroLeague champion.
Maccabi's preseason schedule
The first preseason game that Maccabi has scheduled is against fellow Israeli side Hapoel Holon on September 7. From there, Coach Kattash's squad will take part in a preseason tournament, with games scheduled against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul on September 15 and Panathinaikos Athens on September 17. Maccabi gets its EuroLeague campaign underway on October 5 when it faces Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade at Menora Mivtachim Arena.