Israel Draws Tough EuroBasket Group as Avdija Leads Charge

For the 31st time in its history, Israel will compete in the EuroBasket tournament this summer, facing off in what promises to be one of the competition’s most demanding groups. Set to play its group stage in Katowice, Poland, Israel is slated to meet basketball powerhouses France and Slovenia, alongside the host nation Poland, Belgium, and Iceland.

Led by NBA star Deni Avdija, who has been having a breakout year with the Portland Trail Blazers, the blue-and-white will be looking to channel that energy into success on the European stage. Avdija will be joined by longtime teammate Yam Madar, now back in Israel with Hapoel Tel Aviv, and a solid roster that includes Roman Sorkin, Yovel Zoosman, Khadeen Carrington, team captain Tomer Ginat, and potentially Ben Saraf, depending on his NBA Draft status.

Head coach Ariel Beit Halachmi remains focused on preparation rather than predictions. “Our group is very challenging, but we will have the opportunity to compete against some very good teams and show our abilities,” he said. “I believe in hard work and less talking before the actual tournament itself takes place.”

The draw places Israel alongside giants. France arrives fresh off a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and boasts a deep bench that could include NBA stars like Rudy Gobert, Victor Wembenyama, and Bilal Coulibaly, along with European stalwarts. Slovenia, with global sensation Luka Doncic leading the charge, poses another formidable challenge, especially if supporting stars like Josh Nebo and Zoran Dragic are fit and in form.

Host nation Poland will not be overlooked. Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan and center Aleksander Balcerowski provide firepower in front of a home crowd, while Belgium, with NBA prospects like Toumani Camara and Ajay Mitchell, adds further depth to the competition. Even Iceland, perhaps the underdog of the group, features top-tier Euroleague talent and physical presence.

Tomer Ginat summed up the national mood best “We know there are no easy games at the EuroBasket... but we trust each other to rise to the occasion and represent the country as always with honor.”

Preparations are underway, though logistical challenges remain. With only four warm-up games currently scheduled, Israel faces the added difficulty of teams hesitating to travel to the region. Still, optimism is high, and belief in this team’s unity and talent runs deep.

As Israel braces for one of the toughest group stages in recent memory, one thing is clear the spirit of competition and pride in representing the blue-and-white will drive this squad every step of the way.

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