The Israeli Winner League, the top domestic league in the country, has announced they will begin play again on June 20. The decision was made by the league's board of directors, and their proposal was approved by Israel's Health Ministry,
The Israeli League is Back
Before play can begin, there are several stages that will allow players to gradually rejoin teams and train together before going back to playing games. Included in the requirements before play even begins are:
- a two-week quarantine period for all players from May 17-31 - Practices held from June 1-20 - Games resume June 20 Once the games have resumed, the board decided that each team will play two games a week, and all games will be held in the home arenas of the clubs and without any fan attendance (previously, the league had said it would not resume if fans could not attend - that decision has since been changed). At the conclusion of the regular season, the best-of-three quarterfinal series will be played, followed by the Final Four toward the end of July. We will be following the Israeli League in the coming weeks and months as more news develops.
Americans Jacob Pullen, Isaiah Whitehead and Derek Needham have all extended their contracts with Mornar Bar in Montenegro, per several reports.
COVID-19 has upended the world in every way imaginable, and the world of international basketball has faced some unique challenges in the past few months. Since the Coronavirus has been rampant in Europe longer than it has been in the United States, international basketball players have been exposed to the struggles and difficulties of living through a pandemic long before some people in the U.S. might have known. In addition, the influx of American basketball players in other countries means that they have an interesting persepctive. Many players did come home from the countries they played in, but are returning to a situation that could be worse than the country they played in. For the next few months, Ballers Abroad will provide relevant updates on leagues, teams and how American players are impacted by this pandemic. If you have any info or tips, get in touch with us on Twitter or via email.
Guard Jaime Smith is back with Dinamo Sassari after signing with the Italian team for the remainder of the season. Smith comes to Dinamo Sassari after starting the season with Teksut Bandirma in Turkey, where he averaged 14.4 points and 4.4 assists per game across all competitions, which included the domestic Turkish Basketball Super League and the continental Basketball Champions League.
He also played for Sassari last season, averaging 11.7 points and 4.0 assists per game as he helped the team reach the finals of the Serie A playoffs, losing in seven games to Umana Reyer Venezia He's rejoining a Sassari team that is once again in the title hunt as they are currently in second place in the league standings with a 15-5 record ahead of a return to league play this weekend. The team has also advanced to the Round of 16 in the Basketball Champions League, and will face San Pablo Burgos in the first leg March 3.
SIG Basket Strasbourg recently announced their signing of forward Devonte Upson. Upson arrives in France from Poland after starting the season with Asseco Arka Gdynia in the Polish EBL. In 30 games played, the fifth-year pro averaged 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, which also included competing in the FIBA Europe Cup. After stops in Switzerland, Finland, Estonia China, Argentina and Poland (twice), this will be he first time Upson play in France.
His addition should provide front-court depth to SIG Strasbourg team that is currently on the outside looking in at the LNB Pro A playoffs, as their 9-14 record has them tied for tenth place in the league standings, two games back of a playoff position. The Southeastern Louisiana product joins fellow Americans Scottie Reynolds and Gabe York on the roster.
Olympiacos BC has signed Shaquielle McKissic after McKissic opted out of his contract with Besiktas J.K. on February 1. Greece will be the sixth country the Arizona State product has played in after stops in Italy, South Korea, Spain, Russia and Turkey (where he has been the past two seasons). McKissic played in 30 games for Besiktas this season, averaging 17.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game across all competitions, including the Basketball Champions League, before opting out of his deal.
Olympiacos is making a playoff push in the Euroleague, currently sitting in eleventh place in the standings with a 10-14 record. McKissic joins Americans Octavius Ellis, Brandon Paul andAugustine Rubit on the team.
Jamelle Hagins is joining a new team in Turkey after signing as the newest player at OGM Ormanspor. Hagins comes to Ormanspor after starting the year with Gazientep Basketbol, another team in the Turkish Basketball Super League. In 11 games, Hagins averaged 9.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game which included playing in the Basketball Champions League, last playing for the team on November 20.
The 6'9'' center is leaving one team outside the playoff picture to join another, as he signs with an Ormanspor squad that is closer toward last place than a playoff spot at 4-12. Hagins will join fellow Americans Chris Warren and Ra'shad James on the team. |