Maccabi Tel Aviv is getting ready for the new season, with its EuroLeague campaign getting underway Thursday night against ASVEL Villeurbanne in France. With high expectations surrounding Oded Katash’s squad, the yellow-and-blue has assembled a roster that combines a number of holdovers from last season with a group of newcomers who will look to take the team to the next level, advance to the postseason, and ultimately reach the Final Four.
One of those newcomers is Keaton Wallace, who is making his first foray into international basketball after spending the past two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association.
Just ahead of tipoff, The Jerusalem Post sat down with the 27-year-old guard to discuss his move to Maccabi, his adjustment to European basketball and his hopes for the season ahead.
“I’m excited,” Wallace said at the Hadar Yosef Training Center in Tel Aviv, where Maccabi recently held an open practice attended by close to 1,000 fans. “This is my first time playing in Europe, and I’m excited to be a part of Maccabi Tel Aviv. Maccabi Tel Aviv has been known for historic wins, and I’m ready to be a part of the culture.”
The open practice gave Wallace an early taste of what playing for Maccabi means.
Cheering, chanting, celebrating
“It was amazing. I haven’t seen a crowd like that for an open practice. We had a lot of people cheering, chanting our names, flares going. It was an experience. I had a great time. It was almost like a celebration or a party.”
General manager Claudio Coldebella was instrumental in bringing Wallace to Tel Aviv, with the two speaking in late July before Wallace committed and signed his contract in early August.
“He expressed to me how he enjoys Tel Aviv and Israel and explained to me how there’s a winning culture here, how they won the domestic league last season, played well in the EuroLeague and have had a lot of success in the past,” Wallace said. “I’m just ready and excited to be a part of that culture.”
Wallace said his family also supported his decision to make the move overseas after spending his entire career in the United States.
“I’ve played in the States all of my life. The opportunity to play overseas just presented itself, and it made sense. I’m happy to be here.”
The security situation was naturally part of the conversation before Wallace made the move to Israel. Coldebella explained to him what to expect in the event of sirens and the need to enter a shelter.
“Where I’m from in the States, we have tornadoes, so I kind of see the comparison in that with the tornado drill growing up versus here, sirens, and with the war you go into the shelter,” Wallace explained. “Of course, it could be a lot more serious with it being a war, but my family was okay with it. Claudio expressed how there are some safety risks, but for the most part there’s not too much to just worry or panic about.”
Since October 2023, Maccabi has played very few EuroLeague home games in Tel Aviv, with Belgrade, Serbia, serving as its primary home venue. Wallace is hoping he will eventually have the opportunity to experience a true Maccabi home game.
“I really hope we do have our home games here. Just with the open practice, being able to experience what some of the fans are like. From my understanding, we’re not playing too many games here in Tel Aviv, and we’re playing in Belgrade, Serbia. I would love to experience what a home crowd is like in the home city here in Tel Aviv.”
Wallace is also looking forward to working with Katash, particularly because of the coach’s reputation for developing guards.
“Coach Katash has been a big part of my development so far. Learning his plays, concepts, and philosophies. I enjoy the process of learning, and it’s so far so good.”
Wallace said Katash’s system puts considerable responsibility in the hands of the guards.
“The philosophy has the ball in the guard’s hands a lot, running off of pick-and-rolls, playing with screens, making the right passes, right plays, scoring the ball and things like that. I’m enjoying learning and adjusting my game to be successful here with the team and in the league.”
And does Wallace believe Katash could coach in the NBA?
Adjusting from the NBA to Europe is a process
“Of course. For me to say he can’t doesn’t make sense. A lot of people thought I couldn’t make it to the NBA, and I did, so of course he can be an NBA coach. Clearly I haven’t spent too much time with him; I’ve only been here for two weeks, but just saying somebody can’t do something – nobody knows. Most definitely he can be an NBA coach.”
Adjusting from the NBA to Europe will take time, Wallace acknowledged, particularly with the different lineup structures.
“What I have noticed is that there are two bigs in the lineup, so that is an adjustment. The last time I played in a similar system like that was in college, so I should pick up on concepts and things like that quicker. I’m ready to learn and ready to adjust and take on what’s next in my career.”
His teammates have helped make the transition easier, offering advice not only on basketball but also on life in Tel Aviv.
“Everybody here has been cool, and everybody has been helpful. The returning players have helped me with learning the plays and things like that, learning my way around town. They’ve been giving me restaurant suggestions. They’ve been giving me places to go, where to go on the beach and things like that.”
Wallace began playing basketball at four years old and credits his parents with being his role models. His younger brother, Cason Wallace, is now an NBA champion with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The brothers have remained close throughout their careers. Keaton brought Cason with him everywhere while growing up, including to the gym, and the two eventually shared the NBA stage.
After going undrafted in 2021, Wallace began his professional career in the G League, where he said he quickly learned how much talent existed outside the NBA.
“The G League was a humbling experience for me. Being at UT San Antonio, I was the man for four years. Going to the G League was an ego hit, a pride hit.”
But the experience ultimately helped him develop.
“I understood that I had to develop my game and be even better because the guys that were there were already NBA players. I realized that I wasn’t an NBA player yet. The G League actually developed my game in a lot more ways than I thought it would have. I’m thankful for going to the G League.”
Wallace eventually reached the NBA, signing with Atlanta and making his debut in October 2024 against his brother and the Thunder.
Cason went on to win an NBA championship, another moment Keaton celebrated with pride.
“He has one under his belt. A lot of great players that have played in the NBA, some Hall of Famers, have never won an NBA championship. For him to have that on his resume and actually be a key part of winning that championship speaks volumes about him and his game.”
Wallace also looks back fondly on his own NBA accomplishments, including recording a triple-double and signing his first NBA contract.
“A lot of people can’t say that they’ve ever had a triple-double,” he said. “When I got the NBA contract with Atlanta and Shams Charania tweeted about it, was also important, a key moment for me. Just being able to sign an NBA contract was a big deal for me. It was a dream come true.”
For now, however, Wallace is focused squarely on Maccabi.
“I would say it wasn’t a negative moment for me. My career just presented another opportunity. I’m excited to take on a new challenge and a new direction in my career. If the NBA is the next step, then the NBA is the next step. Right now, I’m where my feet are. I’m here in Israel, Tel Aviv, playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv. That’s what I’m focused on right now.”
And Wallace has already learned one important lesson about life in Tel Aviv.
“I’ve heard that we don’t like Hapoel,” he said with a smile. “That’s all I know. I can’t wear red.”
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