Yair Kravitz: 'In the Israeli national team, every player needs to show up'

During Hapoel Holon's media day held recently, it was difficult to ignore the positive energy in the arena. When Yair Kravitz sat down for a special season-opening interview with Walla Sport, he immediately addressed what he found on Holonia’s floor after returning from the disappointing national team window. "We clicked very quickly. I arrived at a cohesive team after the national team duties. There was an amazing energy in training, everyone pushing each other, and that is what will make the difference for us."

Kravitz has long been a good Israeli player in the Premier League, but this season feels like his opportunity to become a senior Israeli player in the league. "I feel very good from the moment the coach (Predrag Krunic) arrived. I feel he gave me the keys to lead. He makes me feel good and improves my game. He gives me confidence and quiet. I feel good with him. He also demands a lot, he pushes me quite a bit, and I am happy about that."

Last summer, Kravitz decided to choose Hapoel Holon despite offers from other teams and interest from Hapoel Tel Aviv. It did not go smoothly; the team replaced Danny Franco with Yoav Shamir, and it was only after Krunic arrived - and the entire roster of foreign players changed after the war - that the team took off. It was also a central change for him: From 6.2 points and 2.4 assists in 15 league games until Krunic arrived, to 9.5 points and 6.4 assists in the league, and 6.6 points and 6 assists in the playoffs under the Bosnian coach.

"It was a tough season, with the coaching changes and Europe. It was a very complex season. I hope that this year we will have more quiet and do things more correctly. We need to be the Hapoel Holon that everyone wants to see: Intense, aggressive, scrappy, fighting for these fans. That is what we want to do."

What are your conclusions from last season?

"In the end, the path and how we play are very important to the club. We want to win, but the club wants to see a team that does not give up. When we came back from behind in several games, it was important that we fought. The fans connect with dirty work, and that is what we want to give them. That is what the coach demands of us. He does not demand that we play the most flashy basketball, but wants to play practical basketball. That is how we will play. We need an identity within the team, what characterizes us as a team. Last year there was a lot of talent; this year there is talent, but we will be built more on intensity and aggressiveness. Every player who comes here needs to understand the heart and foundation of the team."

Until the meteoric progress of Hapoel Tel Aviv, Holon was nipping at the heels of Hapoel Jerusalem in competing with Maccabi Tel Aviv. In the current reality of Israeli basketball, it is far behind the two wealthy Tel Aviv teams and Jerusalem, with Hapoel Haemek and Ironi Ness Ziona now having surpassed it in terms of budget.

"When I signed here, I signed with a big club as far as I am concerned. The difference between Holon and the rest of the clubs is the fans. When you come with Holon to an away game, the fans accompany you. More money or less money, the fan base is bigger than that. When you come to play, you feel that you are in big games because you have fans pushing you. You do not look at the other team's budget."

You defeated Jerusalem twice last season, but you were not in competition with the Tel Aviv teams.

"It was hard for us with Maccabi and Hapoel in terms of matchups. There are matters like that. Clearly there is a budget gap, but basketball is basketball, and in one game everything is possible. There can be a very special group here. If we consolidate around the idea the coach demands from us, we can play fast and aggressive. We have a very deep roster; it is mandatory to use everyone, and that is significant for us. We see the reality. There are gaps. If our path is good enough and we are complete with it, there will be results. If we connect this entire combination into one scrappy and aggressive team, then there will be results."

Hapoel Tel Aviv wanted you last summer. When you see what is happening there, and what happened with you this season, are you satisfied with your decision?

"I am happy about the season, happy that I got to know the coach, and happy that Danny brought me here. I am content with every decision I have made so far, even in hindsight. I want to play basketball, and I have my own process with myself. My rate of improvement is at my own pace. In the end, everyone has their own path, as an athlete and as a person in this profession."

Kravitz enters this season after a short summer. He ended the season with Holon in mid-June, joined the Israel national team training a week later for the July window, and less than a month and a half later joined the national team's August window. "If these are my problems, I am happy," he says with a smile. "That my summer is short because of such circumstances. When I come to the national team, it is an experience and a dream I am fulfilling. I cannot complain. I am doing what I love. The summer is a bit shorter, but I manage to spend time with my family and my partner. I manage to organize my time. I see it as an experience, as an advantage that keeps me in shape, not as a disadvantage."

What is the feeling after four losses in two windows?

"In our day-to-day, with the players on the national team, we have excellent communication. What we have between us is excellent communication. We talk about things. There is criticism, and the results did not work in our favor. We wanted to look better, that is clear. When you come as a national team, we believe we have the chance to win. We are the Israel national team, united, a group that plays together. Maybe we are not the most athletic or the best, but we can give more, and I know that in the future we will give more."

In the EuroBasket we looked much better than what happened in the windows.

"The window is something very short. You do not have all the time in the world to build what you want. You need to be practical and to the point. Ariel is doing a good job, and we achieved results with him before this. There is the connection of that specific week, for better or worse. Criticism is part of the matter and the profession. We will receive criticism, that is clear. The results unfortunately did not play into our hands."

We heard players interviewed saying that we do not have the luxury of not showing up with the strongest roster.

"In the Israel national team, every player needs to show up. Whoever is requested to show up should show up. Everyone has their reasons. In the end, it is between the player and the national team, and everyone needs to consider what is right. Those who are called up, we are in the best possible atmosphere, and we have one goal - for the symbol."

Next summer there is another tournament, our opportunity to reach the pre-Olympic tournament. Do you mark this as a personal goal?

"We need to dream in order to achieve it. There is enough talent in the country to qualify for a major tournament. I think that ultimately we will qualify. Every time I am called up to the national team, I will come."

Holon has began the Winner Cup, and it faces a difficult season ahead with games in Europe outside of Israel, along with tough battles to try to achieve accomplishments. "The league has strengthened significantly; there are no large gaps except for the major teams. We need to get used to the whole issue of flights; you have to adapt yourself to a week of flights. There are difficult flights - Schwenningen is a six-hour bus ride from Paris. There is no joy like playing; every player wants to play in two competitions and experience Europe."

What actually gives you optimism ahead of the coming season?

"I am continuing with this coach; he gives me a lot of confidence, and I know what he demands of me. This is part of the progress I aimed for. I am very happy, and we need to bring results. Last year things looked different with him, and things clicked. I hope it will look like that again."

You have a good Israeli core. How much does that help?

"We are four Israelis playing. It helps everything immensely. The small connection it gives you with another Israeli - you do not need to do many things, just with your eyes. We coordinate it as the season goes along. It unites us, and it is a very big advantage, especially in the league."

Even if the purple fans dream of bombastic statements, Kravitz remains grounded. "Let us start with the path. When our path is like that of Hapoel Holon, if we show this path, we will take one step forward, and from there we can see. We want to advance a round in Europe, and reach the late stages in the league and the cup. We are Hapoel Holon, and people need to deal with the pressure that exists here."

What do you expect from yourself next season?

"I want to lead the team, guide it, and overcome even more along the way. I have experience, and I want to lead. If it leads to victories this way, then I have improved as a player and taken another step up as a player."