A storybook debut as Yam Madar begins his Maccabi Tel Aviv journey

It was a magical evening of basketball as Yam Madar returned to Yad Eliyahu, only this time wearing the yellow-and-blue of Maccabi Tel Aviv rather than the red of his former club, Hapoel Tel Aviv. Madar led his new team with an MVP performance as Maccabi captured the preseason Super Cup with a convincing 101-83 victory.

The last time we saw Madar was during last season’s championship series, when the two archrivals faced off in a series Maccabi eventually won 3-1. Madar played a leading role for Dimitrios Itoudis’ Hapoel squad. Now, remarkably, he was playing for the man who had been standing on the opposite sideline – Maccabi coach Oded Katash.

Only sports can provide such drama, theater and showmanship.

It’s not every day that a player who grew up through Hapoel’s youth system, before being selected by the Boston Celtics in the NBA Draft, decides to cross the street and join the other side. But there was Madar, trading red for yellow-and-blue and embracing a much bigger role than the one he had previously held.

Despite the pressure, Madar shows he's prepared

It takes a special kind of player to make such a move, knowing the pressure and criticism that will inevitably follow. Madar, however, showed that he was prepared to handle it and, ultimately, do what he believed was best for his career.

The Maccabi fans welcomed him with pomp and circumstance, song and dance, setting the stage for Madar’s coronation as a new Maccabi star.

Then he stepped onto the court, shook hands with his former teammates and got to work.

After an aggressive drive that didn’t quite go his way, Madar quickly settled in, drilling a three-pointer for his first points in yellow-and-blue before giving his patented gunshot salute. He then found Keaton Wallace in the corner with a perfect pass, allowing Wallace to knock down another three.

As the opening quarter wound down with the score fittingly tied at 26 – Madar’s jersey number – who else would get the ball? Madar received it inside the paint, faked, turned and knocked down a short jumper to give Maccabi a 28-26 lead after 10 minutes.

Madar was just getting started

Madar opened the second quarter by hounding Max Heidegger into a backcourt advantage and sending Madar into double figures.

Maccabi continued to pour on the offense after the break, with Iffe Lundberg, Roman Sorkin, Will Rayman, and Bonzie Colson all contributing while Madar took a breather. When he returned, he controlled the ball like a yo-yo, bouncing it up, down and around as Maccabi pulled away to a 79-56 lead after three quarters.

Madar returned to the scoresheet early in the final frame to the delight of the home crowd, while the anticipation grew as the Super Cup and MVP trophies appeared on the sidelines.

Maccabi continued to roll, with newcomer Armando Bacot finding his offense and TJ Leaf returning from a lengthy injury layoff to contribute. But this night belonged to Madar.

When the final buzzer sounded, the yellow-and-blue lifted the trophy high into the air.

For Madar, it was a storybook ending to his first game in a Maccabi uniform. His debut could hardly have gone better.

Now, however, the real challenge begins.

The EuroLeague awaits next week, and the preseason page has officially been turned. If this magical evening was any indication, Madar and Maccabi Tel Aviv appear ready for what comes next.