Maccabi Tel Aviv made one of the biggest moves of the Israeli basketball offseason by signing Israeli national team guard Yam Madar to a three-year contract that will keep him with the club through the end of the 2028/29 season.
The 25-year-old point guard (1.90m), who grew up supporting Maccabi, joins the Israeli League and State Cup champion under head coach Oded Katash and is expected to play a central role in the club's plans both domestically and in the Euroleague.
Madar's arrival continues an aggressive summer for the yellow-and-blue, who have already retained captain John DiBartolomeo, Jaylen Hoard, Jimmy Clark, Will Rayman and Oshae Brissett while also bringing back Bonzie Colson. With Tamir Blatt departing, Madar is expected to become Maccabi's primary Israeli floor general.
Having already played under Katash with the Israeli national team, Madar arrives with an established relationship with the coaching staff and many of his new teammates. Despite his age, he already owns extensive experience at the highest level, including 89 Euroleague appearances, while earning a reputation as one of Israel's premier two-way guards.
"I'm happy and excited to open a new chapter and join Maccabi Tel Aviv," Madar told the club's official website. "I'm already looking forward to meeting the fans, my teammates and the staff, and I promise to give everything I have in every practice and every game to help the club achieve its goals. I want to thank the coaching staff, the management and the owners for their trust, and I look forward to giving back on the court. Yalla Maccabi!"
'Secret of Maccabi's magic is connection with the fans'
Katash believes the timing is ideal for the move.
"I'm very happy that Yam is joining us," the coach said. "His qualities are obvious to everyone, especially after the recent playoffs, and we envision a significant role for him on the team. He arrives at Maccabi at the right age and with massive upside. I want to thank the owners for their tremendous efforts in making this signing happen."
The veteran coach also pointed to the unique bond between the club and its supporters, particularly given Madar's move from arch-rival Hapoel Tel Aviv.
"The secret of Maccabi's magic and success stems from the connection between the fans, the team and the players," Katash said. "I am certain that with Yam, this is the beginning of a wonderful relationship with a natural connection that will only grow deeper."
Club chairman Shimon Mizrahi also welcomed the newest addition.
"Yam, you are warmly welcomed with tremendous love and joy as another Israeli player who will be an anchor of our team, Maccabi Tel Aviv," Mizrahi said. "We wish you great success."
Born on December 21, 2001, Madar grew up in Beit Dagan before beginning his basketball journey with the local youth club and later joining Hapoel Tel Aviv's academy. He made his senior debut in 2018 and quickly emerged as one of Israel's brightest young stars, earning Israeli League Most Improved Player honors the following season.
His success extended to the national team, where he helped Israel win the 2019 FIBA Under-20 European Championship on home soil while earning All-Tournament Team honors. Katash later called him up to the senior national team, where Madar has become one of Israel's leaders. Earlier this summer, he scored a career-high 31 points against Germany.
Madar declared for the 2020 NBA Draft alongside longtime friend Deni Avdija and was selected 47th overall by the Boston Celtics. Although he never played in the NBA, his professional career flourished in Europe.
He joined Serbian powerhouse Partizan Belgrade in 2021 under legendary coach Zeljko Obradovic and was named the Euroleague Rising Star for the 2022/23 season. He then moved to Fenerbahce, helping the Turkish club capture the domestic championship while reaching the Euroleague Final Four in Berlin, before spending time with Bayern Munich.
Madar returned to Israel in November 2024, rejoining Hapoel Tel Aviv. During the 2024/25 campaign, he played a major role in leading the Reds to the EuroCup title and their first-ever Euroleague berth. He also delivered one of the finest performances of his career in the final regular-season Tel Aviv derby, scoring 41 points while knocking down nine of his 10 three-point attempts.
Move across Tel Aviv stings Hapoel
He elevated his game during the Israeli League playoffs, shooting 45.8 percent from beyond the arc while averaging 19.2 points, eight assists and 1.5 steals over the four-game championship series. Despite his outstanding play, Hapoel ultimately fell to Maccabi in the Finals.
The move across Tel Aviv is certain to sting Hapoel supporters, who viewed Madar as one of the club's cornerstone players. However, his final season with the Reds was a tale of two campaigns.
After choosing to represent Israel at last summer's EuroBasket while dealing with an injury, Madar entered the club season behind schedule physically. As he worked his way back, head coach Dimitrios Itoudis established his Euroleague rotation without him.
Madar did not make his Euroleague debut until December and averaged just over 10 minutes and 3.4 points per game, seeing only limited action during the postseason against Real Madrid.
Domestically, however, it was a different story. Madar averaged 13.2 points in 24 minutes per game during the Israeli League season before raising his production to 19.6 points in 32 minutes per contest during the playoffs, proving once again that he remained one of the country's elite guards.
Now, Madar begins a new chapter with the club he supported growing up. With Blatt no longer on the roster, Maccabi is placing considerable faith in its newest signing to lead the backcourt and become one of the faces of the franchise as it pursues championships in both Israel and the Euroleague.
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