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Basketball (kaduresal) is Israel's #2 sport, and sometimes #1 for ratings. The top tier is Ligat Winner (Israeli Basketball Premier League), 14 teams. Maccabi Tel Aviv BC dominates Israeli basketball with 6 EuroLeague titles (1977, 1981, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2014) and the iconic yellow-blue colors. Other top clubs: Hapoel Tel Aviv, Hapoel Jerusalem (multiple Israeli + EuroCup titles), Maccabi Rishon LeZion. Most Maccabi home games are at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv.
Cultural note, Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball is the Israeli equivalent of "national pride" sports. When they beat Real Madrid or CSKA Moscow in EuroLeague, the country pauses. Hapoel Jerusalem's recent rise (EuroCup champions 2024) is reshaping the "yellow monopoly", many young fans now wear Hapoel red. Imports include American players (often via the "Israeli citizenship" pathway for Jewish players); the league limit is ~5 imports per team. The vocabulary mixes Hebrew with NBA-style English borrowings (slam-dunk, three-point).
Basketball Basics
Leagues & Cups
Maccabi Tel Aviv BC
Other Top Clubs
Game Vocabulary
Maccabi vs Hapoel Jerusalem at Menora
An oleh attends his first Maccabi Tel Aviv home game with an Israeli friend.