Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C.

Hapoel Tel Aviv was founded in 1935, as part of the Tel Aviv branch of the "Hapoel" sports cooperative, the sports department of the Histadrut labor union, which was socialist. The 15 years following the foundation of the Israeli national league in 1954 were the golden age in the club's history. During that time, it won most of its trophies. by supporters of Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C. following the club's relegation to the Israeli third tier, after years characterized by lack of financial support by the club's owner Eizenberg and poor management, which led it to bankruptcy, and finally relegation to the fourth tier, and the demolition of the Ussishkin Arena. followed by the fans team's trust buying the rights to Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C. brand through a third party. The name change was approved by the supporter trust in the following months, with the team promotion for the 2010–11 national league season. During the 2007–08 season, backed with an astronomical budget in fifth-tier terms of over 300,000 NIS, the team finished its first season with a perfect record of 22–0 and qualified to the 4th division. The club also won another title by taking the Israeli 5th Division Union Cup, also without losing a single game. During the 2008–09 season, they also finished with a perfect record, 22–0, and the team qualified to the 3rd division. On April 30, 2009, the team won the Israeli 4th and 3rd Division Union Cup, winning over Hapoel Kfar Saba in the final game. Before the 2009–10 season started, it was decided that Hapoel Ussishkin would not play in the same district as Hapoel Tel Aviv, which played in the 3rd division as well, thus avoiding an intriguing match-up. The team qualified to Liga Leumit with a perfect record and won the Israeli 4th and 3rd Division Union Cup, winning over Elitzur Kohav-Yair/Keffar-Sabba in the final game. Hapoel Ussishkin Honors Liga Artzit '''''''''' • Winners: 2010 '''' Liga Alef '''''''''' • Winners: 2009 '''' Liga Bet '''''''''' • Winners: 2008 '''' Association Cup • Champions (2): 2009, 2010 Liga Bet Association Cup • Champions (1): 2008 Players of the Year The Player of the Year award is voted for by fans in time for the final home game of the season. Previous winners have been: Hapoel Tel Aviv (2011–present) At the end of 2009–10 season, Following the closing of the original Hapoel Tel Aviv club, the rights to the club name were purchased by an anonymous businessman, and were given to the Hapoel Ussishkin Management. The Management of Hapoel Ussishkin, following a member-wide voting process, decided to rename the club name back to its original name, Hapoel Tel Aviv. In the 2010–11 season, the club reached the semi-finals of the State Cup, before being knocked off by Elitzur Netanya. The club failed to achieve promotion to the first division at the end of the 2010–11 season, following a loss in the playoffs finals to B.C. Ha-Bika'a. In the 2011–12 season Hapoel Tel Aviv finally achieved promotion to the First Division, following a playoff win over Maccabi Beér Yaacov, therefore returning to the top tier after six years, and being the first fan-owned club in Israel to participate in a top-tier league. From 2014 to 2017, Tamir Blatt played for the team. In March 2016, NBA star Nate Robinson signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv for the remainder of the season. Robinson led Hapoel Tel Aviv to the 8 seed and qualification for the playoffs. On May 19, Robinson scored 46 points in a quarter-final game against Hapoel Jerusalem. It was the most points scored in a playoff game since 1985. In the 2024–25 season, Hapoel doubled its budget to 70-80 million Israeli Shekels (~€16.8 million-€19.2 million. It acquired a range of high-profile players, including NBA veteran Patrick Beverley, Bruno Caboclo and Johnathan Motley. The team's management expressed their goal to win the EuroCup in the season. Beverley left the team in February. In April 2025, the team had won the EuroCup and earning a promotion to the EuroLeague for the following 2025–26 season. Towars the 2025–26 season, the team signed several high-profile players, such as Vasilije Micic, Daniel Oturu and Elijah Bryant. In addition, Hapoel tel aviv succeeded to keep Antonio Blakeney and Ish Wainright, who were significant factors in Hapoel Tel Aviv's promotion to the EuroLeague. One round left to the season, after a win in the derby against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapol tel aviv secured its spot in the EuroLeague playoff, and guaranteed its participation in the next EuroLeague season. ==Rivalries==

Rivalry with Maccabi Tel Aviv For years Hapoel and Maccabi Tel Aviv were considered the top two clubs of Israeli basketball. The Local derby matches between the two teams were always considered to be the most prestigious games in Israeli sports, and ones which led to a bitter atmosphere between fans of both clubs, often resulting in acts of mutual violence and hooliganism. The tension between both clubs reached its peak in the 1980s. During this era they met for several times in the league's play-off finals and state cup finals. Probably the most famous meeting came in the best-of-three League Championship Finals in April 1985. Hapoel Tel Aviv won the first game in convincing fashion, leading by as much as 25 points late in the second half. Mike Largey always played well against Maccabi Tel Aviv, having beaten them five times in the four years that he played for Hapoel Tel Aviv. Prior to his arrival, Hapoel Tel Aviv had not beaten Maccabi Tel Aviv in 17 straight games. The Hapoel Tel Aviv fans were very confident that this was their year to win the League Championship. The second game started with Largey picking up where he left off from the first game. Then, towards the beginning of the second half, after play had stopped for a loose ball foul, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Motti Aroesti shoved his hand into the face of Largey. Largey responded immediately and threw Aroesti to the ground. Afterward, both players were ejected from the game and were automatically suspended from playing in Game 3. Largey was far more valuable to Hapoel Tel Aviv then Aroesti was to Maccabi Tel Aviv and, not surprisingly, Maccabi Tel Aviv went on to win Games 2 and 3. To this day, most Hapoel Tel Aviv fans are convinced that Maccabi Tel Aviv planned this provocation as a way to deal with its nemesis. These matches are still regarded as of the most exciting in Israeli basketball history. During the years as Maccabi Tel Aviv strengthened its dominance in Israeli basketball and its status as the almost-eternal champions, "Hapoel" fans accused their rival's management of various wrongful doing. ==Players==

Current roster ===EuroLeague Depth chart=== ===Ligat HaAl Depth chart=== Notable players • Haim Hazan 13 seasons: '53–'66 • Zvi Lubezki 15 seasons: '56–'71 • Rami Gutt 13 seasons: '59–'72 • Gershon Dekel 14 seasons: '61–'75 • Bill Wold 3 seasons: '66–'68 • Mark Torenshine 9 seasons: '68–'77 • Barry Leibowitz 11 seasons: '68–'69, '71–'82 • Ivan Leshinsky 4 seasons: '68–'71 • Patrick Beverley 1 season: '24–'25 • Dave Newmark 2 seasons: '73–'74, '77–'78 • Danny Bracha 11 seasons: '73–'84 • Pinchas Hozez 11 seasons: '74–'85 • John Willis 8 seasons: '76–'82, '84–'85, '86–'87 • Boaz Yanai 1 season: '79–'80 • LaVon Mercer 8 seasons: '80–'88 • Kenny Labanowski 4 seasons: '81–'85 • Amos Frishman 11 seasons: '81–'89, '90–'93 • Mike Largey 4 seasons: '83–'87 • Ofer Fleischer 6 seasons: '84–'87, '93–'95, '98–'99 • Shimon Amsalem 10 seasons: '85–'94, '98–'99 • Jon Dalzell 2 seasons: '87–'88, '91–'92 • Haim Zlotikman 2 seasons: '87–'88, '92–'93 • Linton Townes 2 seasons: '87–'89 • Howard Lassoff 3 seasons: '87–'90 • Dennis Williams 2 seasons: '88–'90 • Keith Bennett 3 seasons: '88–'91 • James Terry 4 seasons: '88–'89, '90–'91, '94–'96 • Derrick Hamilton 1 season: '89 • Mike Gibson 1 season: '90 • David Henderson 1 season: '90–'91 • Doug Lee 1 season: '91–'92 • Purvis Short 1 season: '91–'92 • David Thirdkill 3 seasons: '91–'94 • Tomer Steinhauer 3 seasons: '91–'94 • Terry Fair 1 season: '92–'93 • Radenko Dobraš 3 seasons: '92–'93, '95, '00–'01 • Lior Arditi 2 seasons: '93–'95 • Meir Tapiro 2 seasons: '94–'96 • Buck Johnson 1 season: '94–'95 • Milt Wagner 1 season: '94–'95 • Nenad Marković 1 season: '95–'96 • Gil Mossinson 6 seasons: '95–'98, '02–'03, '04–'06 • Kevin Bradshaw 3 seasons: '96–'99 • Dror Hagag 3 seasons: '01–'04 • Cedric Ceballos 1 season: '02 • Chris King 1 season: '02–'03 • Billy Keys 1 season: '02–'03 • Nikola Bulatović 1 season: '02–'03 • Yaniv Green 2 seasons: '02–'04 • Matan Naor 12 seasons: '02–'04, '07–'17 • Virginijus Praškevičius 1 season: '03–'04 • Jasmin Hukić 1 season: '03–'04 • Michael Wright 1 season: '03–'04 • William Avery 1 season: '04 • Samo Udrih 1 season: '04–'05 • Kenny Williams 1 season: '04–'05 • Marcus Hatten 1 season: '05–'06 • Jeron Roberts 1 season: '05–'06 • Bar Timor 4 seasons: '11–'13, '20–present • Curtis Kelly 3 seasons: '11–'13, '15 • Jonathan Skjöldebrand 4 seasons: '11–'15 • Jeff Allen 3 seasons: '12–'13, '15–'16, '17 • Brian Randle 1 season: '13 • Carlon Brown 1 season: '13–'14 • Raviv Limonad 6 seasons: '13–'19 • Yancy Gates 1 season: '14–'15 • Durand Scott 1 season: '14–'15 • Tamir Blatt 3 seasons: '14–'17 • Tre Simmons 1 season: '15–'16 • Nate Robinson 1 season: '16 • Mark Lyons 2 seasons: '16–'17, '19–present • Alando Tucker 1 season: '16–'17 • Adrian Banks 2 seasons: '16–'18 • Richard Howell 2 seasons: '16–'17, '18–'19 • Tomer Ginat 4 seasons: '16–present • Tony Gaffney 1 season: '17–'18 • Jerel McNeal 2 seasons: '17–'19 • Jamal Shuler 1 season: '18–'19 • David Kaminsky • Shamuel Nachmias • Ari Rosenberg • Ami Shelef • Ofer Yaakobi ==Season by season==

• Ami Shelef (1936–1988) ==Staff==

Domestic competitions • Israeli Premier League : Winners (5): 1959–60, 1960–61, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1968–69 : Runners-up (22): 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2022–23, 2023–24 • Israeli State Cup : Winners (4): 1961–62, 1968–69, 1983–84, 1992–93 : Runners-up (13): 1955–56, 1957–58, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1969–70, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1993–94, 2022 • Israeli league Cup : Runners-up (2): 2022, 2025 Lower divisions competitions Israeli National League '''''''''' • Champions: 1998, 2002, 2012 European competitions • EuroCup : Champions (1): 2024–25 • FIBA Korać Cup : Semifinalist (2): 1979–80, 1987–88 • FIBA EuroChallenge : Semifinalist (1): 2003–04 Regional competitions • Balkan League : Semifinalist (1): 2012 ==Former managers==

• Yehoshua Rozin • Ralph Klein • Zvika Sherf • Erez Edelstein • Haim Hazan • Moshe Weinkrantz • Danny Franco ==See also==