The 2017–18 Israeli Basketball Premier League, for sponsorship reasons Ligat Winner, was the 64th season of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. Hapoel Jerusalem is the defending champion.
Competition format Twelve teams took part in the regular season, where they played against each other four times home-and-away in a double round-robin format. The first eight qualified teams advanced to the playoffs. The last qualified team was relegated to the Liga Leumit. The regular season started 8 October 2017.
Teams
Ironi Nes Ziona has been promoted to the league after winning 2016–17 National League, and comes back just one year after their relegation.Ironi Nes-Ziona celebrate National League title Maccabi Kiryat Gat, who finished in last place during the 2016–17 season, relegated to the Liga Leumit
Stadia and locations Team Home city Stadium Capacity Bnei Herzliya Herzliya HaYovel Herzliya 1,500 Hapoel Eilat Eilat Begin Arena 1,490Hapoel Gilboa Galil Gilboa Regional Council Gan Ner Sports Hall 2,100 Hapoel Holon Holon Holon Toto Hall5,500 Hapoel Jerusalem Jerusalem Pais Arena 11,000 Hapoel Tel Aviv Tel Aviv Drive in Arena 3,504 Ironi Nahariya Nahariya Ein Sarah 2,500 Ironi Nes Ziona Ness Ziona Lev Hamoshava 1,200 Maccabi Ashdod Ashdod HaKiriya Arena 2,200 Maccabi Haifa Haifa Romema Arena 5,000 Maccabi Rishon LeZion Rishon LeZion Beit Maccabi Rishon 2,500 Maccabi Tel Aviv Tel Aviv Menora Mivtachim Arena 10,383
Personnel and sponsorship Team Chairman Head coach Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorBnei Herzliya Eldad Akunis Arik Shivek Peak Rav-BariachHapoel Eilat Motti Amsalem Sharon Drucker And1 FattalHapoel Gilboa Galil Haim Ohayon Ariel Beit-Halahmy Peak Hapoel Holon Eitan Lanciano Dan Shamir Peak UNETHapoel Jerusalem Ori Allon Oded Kattash Macron Bank YahavHapoel Tel Aviv Rami Cohen Danny Franco Peak SPIroni Nahariya Nissim Alfasi Eric Alfasi Peak Ironi Nes Ziona Tomer Yamin Nadav Zilberstein Kappa Hai MotorsMaccabi Ashdod Meir Kikoz Brad Greenberg And1 Kaplan Medical CenterMaccabi Haifa Jeff Rosen Barak Peleg Peak HunterMaccabi Rishon LeZion Itzhak Peri Zvika Sherf Under Armour ILAND.TVMaccabi Tel Aviv Shimon Mizrahi Neven Spahija Nike FOX
Managerial changes Departure date Team Outgoing head coach Reason Hire date Incoming head coach Hapoel Jerusalem Fotios KatsikarisFired Modi Maor Hapoel Eilat Meir TapiroFired Sharon DruckerBnei Herzliya Mickey GorkaFired Arik Shivek Hapoel Jerusalem Modi MaorFired Oded Kattash Maccabi Rishon LeZion Shmulik BrenerFired Zvika Sherf Maccabi Haifa Offer RahimiResigned Barak Peleg
Regular season In the regular season, teams play against each other at least three times home-and-away in double a round-robin format. The six first qualified teams advance to the playoffs. The regular season started on 8 October 2017.
Standings
Players strike On May 22, 2018, the Israeli Basketball Players Association announced a strike after the league introduced a rule, which enforced the teams to have at least two Israeli players on court at the same time. On May 24, the league announced that the season would be ended with one regular season game remaining and that no playoffs would be held due to the ongoing strike.
However, on May 25, 2018, the Israeli League Management have reached an agreement with the Israeli Basketball Players Association and the strike ended.
Play-offs
Source: Ligat Winner
Final Four
Clubs in European competitions Team Competition Progress Maccabi Tel Aviv EuroLeague Regular season Hapoel Jerusalem EuroCup Regular season Hapoel Holon Champions League Regular season Bnei Herzliya FIBA Europe Cup Regular season
Final standings TeamQualification or relegation 1 Maccabi Tel Aviv Automatically qualified for 2018–19 EuroLeague 2 Hapoel Holon Qualified for 2018–19 Basketball Champions League 3 Hapoel Jerusalem 4 Hapoel Tel Aviv 5 Maccabi Ashdod 6 Hapoel Gilboa Galil 7 Hapoel Eilat 8 Ironi Nes Ziona Qualified for 2018–19 FIBA Europe Cup 9 Ironi Nahariya 10 Bnei Herzliya 11 Maccabi Rishon LeZion 12 Maccabi Haifa Relegated to the Ligat Leumit
All-Star Game The 2018 Israeli League All-star event was held on March 2, 2018, at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv.
The International team won the game 137–122. The MVP of the game was Pierre Jackson who scored 18 points along with 6 assists.
Corey Webster won the Three-Point Shootout and Jaron Johnson won the Slam Dunk Contest.
Rosters
+Israeli All-StarsPosPlayerTeamStartersG Tamir Blatt Hapoel HolonG Adrian Banks Hapoel Tel AvivF Shawn Dawson Bnei HerzliyaF Amit Simhon Hapoel EilatC Alex Tyus Maccabi Tel AvivReservesG Yiftach Ziv Ironi NahariyaG Avi Ben-Chimol Maccabi Rishon LeZionG Joaquin Szuchman Hapoel Gilboa GalilF Willy Workman Maccabi HaifaF Nimrod Levi Maccabi AshdodF/C Elishay Kadir Ironi Nes ZionaC Richard Howell Hapoel JerusalemF Oz Blayzer Maccabi HaifaHead coach: Dan Shamir (Hapoel Holon)Head coach: Ariel Beit-Halahmy (Hapoel Gilboa Galil)
+International All-StarsPosPlayerTeamStartersG Pierre Jackson Maccabi Tel AvivG Jerome Dyson Hapoel JerusalemF Glen Rice Jr. Hapoel HolonF Tony Gaffney Hapoel Tel AvivF/C Zach LeDay Hapoel Gilboa GalilReservesG Jordan Loyd Hapoel EilatG Khalif Wyatt Ironi Nes ZionaG Sek Henry Maccabi AshdodG Jason Siggers Maccabi Rishon LeZionF Alex Young Ironi NahariyaF/C Brandon Bowman Maccabi HaifaF/C Jeff Adrien Bnei HerzliyaG Derwin Kitchen Hapoel EilatF David Laury Maccabi AshdodHead coach: Neven Spahija (Maccabi Tel Aviv)Head coach: Brad Greenberg (Maccabi Ashdod)
Game
Three-point shootout +Contestants Pos. Player Team 1st round Final roundG Corey WebsterIroni Nahariya 16 22F Guy PniniHapoel Holon 20 15G Tamir Blatt Hapoel Holon 17 15G John DiBartolomeoMaccabi Tel Aviv 15 -F Amit SimhonHapoel Eilat 14 -G Jerome DysonHapoel Jerusalem 8 -G Khalif WyattIroni Nes Ziona 8 -G Or CohenHapoel Jerusalem (Youth) 8 -F Jonathan Skjöldebrand Ironi Nahariya - - Source: Basket.co.il
Slam Dunk Contest
+Contestants Pos. Player Team 1st round 2nd round Final roundF Jaron JohnsonIroni Nes Ziona 40 40 39G Adrian BanksHapoel Tel Aviv 40 40 36G Sek HenryMaccabi Ashdod 37 - -F/C Zach LeDayHapoel Gilboa Galil 34 - - Source: Basket.co.il
Statistical leaders Points | style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"|
Assists
Rebounds | style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"|
Efficiency
Other statistics Category Player Team Average Steals Ángel Rodríguez Maccabi Haifa 2.4 Blocks Reginald Buckner Maccabi Haifa 1.5 Turnovers Ángel Rodríguez Maccabi Haifa 3.3 Minutes Amit Simhon Hapoel Eilat 34:20 2P% Ronald Roberts Hapoel Jerusalem 76.9% 3P% Yotam Halperin Hapoel Jerusalem 48.5% FT% Corey Walden Hapoel Holon 92.0%
Source: Basket.co.il
Individual game highs Category Player Team Total Opponent Points Glen Rice Jr. Hapoel Holon 43 Maccabi Ashdod (Nov 18, 17) Rebounds Zach LeDay Hapoel Gilboa Galil 20 Hapoel Jerusalem (Dec 10, 17) Assists Avi Ben-Chimol Maccabi Rishon LeZion 16 Hapoel Tel Aviv (Apr 9, 18) Steals Pierre Jackson Maccabi Tel Aviv 7 Ironi Nahariya (Dec 12, 17) Blocks Joe Alexander Hapoel Holon 6 Hapoel Jerusalem (Mar 24, 18) Three Pointers Jerome Dyson Hapoel Jerusalem 8 Maccabi Rishon LeZion (Jan 15, 18) Source: RealGM
Awards Yearly awards Regular season MVP PlayerTeam SG Sek Henry Maccabi Ashdod Source: basket.co.il
Finals MVP PlayerTeam C Alex Tyus Maccabi Tel Aviv Source: basket.co.il
All-Israeli League Teams First Team Second TeamPlayerTeamPlayerTeam Jerome Dyson Hapoel Jerusalem John DiBartolomeo Maccabi Tel Aviv Sek Henry Maccabi Ashdod Joaquin Szuchman Hapoel Gilboa Galil Amit Simhon Hapoel Eilat Jordan Loyd Hapoel Eilat Joe Alexander Hapoel Holon Tomer Ginat Hapoel Tel Aviv Zach LeDay Hapoel Gilboa Galil Alex Tyus Maccabi Tel Aviv Source: basket.co.il
Coach of the Year
CoachTeam Dan Shamir Hapoel Holon Source: basket.co.il
Quarterfinals MVP PlayerTeam PG Jeremy Pargo Maccabi Tel Aviv Source: basket.co.il
Best Defender PlayerTeam SG Joaquin Szuchman Hapoel Gilboa Galil Source: basket.co.il
Most Improved Player PlayerTeam PF Nimrod Levi Maccabi Ashdod Source: basket.co.il
Sixth Man of the Year PlayerTeam SG Adrian Banks Hapoel Tel Aviv Source: basket.co.il
Rising Star PlayerTeam SG Yovel Zoosman Maccabi Tel Aviv Source: basket.co.il
Monthly Awards Player of the Month MonthRoundsPlayerTeam October1–4 Alex Young Ironi Nahariya21.0November5–7 Glen Rice Jr. (1/2)Hapoel Holon28.0December8–10 Zach LeDay (1/2)Hapoel Gilboa Galil30.7January11–15 Sek Henry Maccabi Ashdod25.8February16–17 Glen Rice Jr. (2/2)Hapoel Holon44.0March18–21 Jeff Adrien Bnei Herzliya33.0April22–27 Zach LeDay (2/2)Hapoel Gilboa Galil27.8
Israeli Player of the Month MonthRoundsPlayerTeam October1–4 Tomer Ginat (1/2)Hapoel Tel Aviv16.3November5–7 Joe Alexander Hapoel Holon23.3December8–10 Joaquin Szuchman Hapoel Gilboa Galil16.6January11–15 Nimrod Levi Maccabi Ashdod16.4February16–17 Guy Pnini Hapoel Holon9.3March18–21 Amit Simhon Hapoel Eilat14.8April22–27 Tomer Ginat (2/2)Hapoel Tel Aviv18.5
Coach of the Month MonthRoundsCoachTeamOctober1–4 Eric Alfasi Ironi Nahariya3–1November5–7 Dan Shamir (1/2)Hapoel Holon3–0December8–10 Ariel Beit-Halahmy (1/2)Hapoel Gilboa Galil3–0January11–15 Brad Greenberg Maccabi Ashdod5–0February16–17 Dan Shamir (2/2)Hapoel Holon2–0March18–21 Nadav Zilberstein Ironi Nes Ziona3–1April22–27 Ariel Beit-Halahmy (2/2)Hapoel Gilboa Galil6–0
MVP of the Round
Round Player Team October 1 Tomer GinatHapoel Tel Aviv 18 2 Alex YoungIroni Nahariya 22 3 Brandon BowmanMaccabi Haifa 26 4 David LauryMaccabi Ashdod 32 Sek Henry 26 November 5 Tyler StoneHapoel Gilboa Galil 40 6 J'Covan Brown (1/2)Hapoel Gilboa Galil 42 7 Glen Rice Jr. (1/4)Hapoel Holon 43 December 8 Tony GaffneyHapoel Tel Aviv 36 9 Zach LeDayHapoel Gilboa Galil 33 10 Jerome Dyson (1/3)Hapoel Jerusalem 29 January 11 Jordan LoydHapoel Eilat 43 12 Taurean GreenBnei Herzliya 31 13 Jerome Dyson (2/3)Hapoel Jerusalem 27 14 D'Angelo Harrison (1/2)Hapoel Gilboa Galil 41 15 Murphy Holloway (1/2)Maccabi Rishon LeZion 35 February 16 Glen Rice Jr. (2/4)Hapoel Holon 42 17 Glen Rice Jr. (3/4)Hapoel Holon 46 March 18 Khalif Wyatt Ironi Nes Ziona 26 19 Glen Rice Jr. (4/4)Hapoel Holon 46 20 Tu Holloway Hapoel Holon 28 21 Oz BlayzerMaccabi Haifa 34 April 22 Joaquin SzuchmanHapoel Gilboa Galil 24 23 J'Covan Brown (2/2)Hapoel Gilboa Galil 38 24 Murphy Holloway (2/2)Maccabi Rishon LeZion 34 25 Amit SimhonHapoel Eilat 24 26 Jerome Dyson (3/3)Hapoel Jerusalem 21 May 27 D'Angelo Harrison (2/2)Hapoel Gilboa Galil 39 28 Joe Alexander Hapoel Holon 41 29 Cameron Long Maccabi Ashdod 28 30 Lior Eliyahu Hapoel Jerusalem 26 31 Shawn Dawson Bnei Herzliya 28 32 Jeremy Pargo Maccabi Tel Aviv 30 33 Richard Howell Hapoel Jerusalem 25
Average attendances Included playoffs games.
See also 2017–18 Israeli Basketball State Cup 2017 Israeli Basketball League Cup
References