August 28, 2025

Get ready for some intense basketball drama – off the court as well! The Israeli national basketball team is gearing up to start their EuroBasket 2025 journey in Katowice, Poland, but it’s not just the basketball courts heating up. They face a tricky group with host Poland, Iceland, France, Slovenia, and Belgium. Yet, what’s grabbing all the attention is the BIG security headache surrounding them. Israel’s General Security Service, local Polish police, and Interpol are teaming up to protect the team. Why? Because tensions are bubbling and the threat level is high. Players have even been told to hide their Israeli badges and keep quiet outside. As Israel Hayom reports, “players have been instructed to keep Israeli symbols hidden whenever possible and to maintain a low profile in public.” They want to just play basketball, but safety is equally critical. Basket News shared how hard it was for Israel to arrange warm-up matches. Clubs and federations hesitated to play against them, worried it might seem like a political statement. Things got worse recently during a UEFA qualifier when Israeli fans faced nasty signs like "Murderers since 1939" and even had objects thrown at their team bus! That’s why for each of their five group games, including the big one on September 4 against Luka Doncic’s Slovenia, Israel will have triple security. Staying safe is no joke! On the bright side, the team’s star, Deni Avdija, a Portland Trail Blazers forward, is ready to shine. After winning three of five warm-up games, the team revealed their 12-player roster last week post their final practice match against Montenegro. Israel hopes this 31st EuroBasket appearance will end a 46-year wait to reach the semi-finals. Their first game is against Iceland on August 28. Fans and players alike are dreaming big. So, while the political and security drama adds spice and tension, the heart of the story is basketball. Can this team, led by Avdija, overcome off-court hurdles and make history in Poland? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – everyone’s watching the Israeli team closely, both on and off the court!

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Tags: Israeli basketball, Eurobasket 2025, Security concerns, Deni avdija, Interpol, Poland,