Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. Explained

Hapoel Jerusalem
History:Hapoel Jerusalem B.C.
(1943–present)
Location:Jerusalem
Leagues:Israeli Premier League
EuroCup
Arena:Pais Arena
Capacity:11,000
Colors:Red, Black, White
Sponsor:Bank Yahav
Owner:Matan Adelson (90%)
Fan association (10%)
President:Matan Adelson
Ceo:Alon Kremer
Coach:Yonatan Alon
Championships:1 EuroCup
2 Israeli Championship
8 Israeli State Cups
6 Israeli League Cups
Website:hapoel.co.il
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Hapoel Jerusalem Basketball Club (Hebrew: מועדון כדורסל הפועל ירושלים), known for sponsorship reasons as Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (הפועל בנק יהב ירושלים), is a professional basketball club based in the City of Jerusalem, and competes in the Israeli Basketball Premier League (the top tier of Israeli basketball), the Israeli State Cup, and the Basketball Champions League. It has won several titles, including the ULEB Cup (now called EuroCup) in 2004, the Israeli Basketball Premier League championship in 2015 and 2017, and seven state Cups. In 2013, a new ownership group took over, and the club has since seen a remarkable advancement and expansion. The team began playing in the Pais Arena in 2014.

History

Hapoel Jerusalem Basketball Club was founded in 1935, and incorporated in 1943.[1] [2] It made its first appearance in the Israeli Basketball Premier League in 1955. Hapoel Jerusalem played in the first division most of the 1950s and 1960s, with notable players such as David Kaminsky. The following two decades had ups and downs, as Hapoel Jerusalem toggled between the first and second divisions.

In 1986, led by coach Simi Riger, the team advanced to the Premier League, after five consecutive years in the second division.[1] Since then, Hapoel Jerusalem has remained in the Premier League.[1] In 1996 and 1997, Hapoel Jerusalem won the Israeli Basketball State Cup, defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv in the finals, at the Yad Eliyahu Arena.[1] The team was led by Adi Gordon.[1]

In 2004, Hapoel Jerusalem won its first European title, the ULEB Cup (EuroCup), defeating Real Madrid in the final in Charleroi, Belgium.[3] [4]

In 2005, Israeli-Russian billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak purchased a large stake in the club.[1] As a result, the team became stronger and signed four American players with NBA records – Tamar Slay, Horace Jenkins, Roger Mason, and Mario Austin, as well as Israeli star Meir Tapiro.[1]

In 2007, Hapoel Jerusalem won its third Israel State Cup, defeating Bnei HaSharon.[1] In early 2008 Hapoel Jerusalem came back from being 22 points down in the 4th quarter, to win its fourth State Cup, beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 93–89.[4] [1] In late 2008 it won its first Israeli Basketball League Cup, beating Ironi Nahariya.[1]

In September 2009, oil tycoon Guma Aguiar became the team's sponsor and helped pay debts left by Gaydamak.[1] On October 8, 2009, Hapoel Jerusalem beat Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Winner Cup finals, winning the club's second cup in a row.[1]

One year after the mysterious disappearance of Guma Aguiar, in 2013 a new ownership group headed by entrepreneur Ori Allon took over.[1] Guy Harel succeeded Dani Klein as general manager.[1]

In April 2014, the New York Post and The Wall Street Journal reported that six-time NBA All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire might join Hapoel Jerusalem after his contract with the New York Knicks expired at the end of the 2014–15 NBA season.[5] [6] Stoudemire decided to retire from the NBA in July 2016.[1]

Amar'e Stoudemire signed a two-year contract with Hapoel Jerusalem on August 1, 2016.[7] [8] In his first season with the team he helped it win the Israeli Basketball League Cup, defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv.[8]

On June 20, 2014, the club signed coach Danny Franco.[1] That same day, the club also signed season MVP Donta Smith.[9] On June 25, 2014, the executive board of Euroleague Commercial Assets agreed to give Hapoel Jerusalem a wild card to compete for a spot in the EuroLeague qualifications.[10]

On June 25, 2015, Hapoel Jerusalem won the Israeli Basketball Premier League Championship for the first time in their history, defeating Hapoel Eilat in the Final.[1] On June 15, 2017, the club won the Israeli Championship for the second time, defeating Maccabi Haifa in the Israeli Final.[1] [11]

Team management

Ownership

Staff

Fans and arena

The Brigade

Brigade Malcha is the official ultras organization of Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. In Malha Arena, the Brigade was located behind the south side basket. At the Pais Arena, the Brigade is located in stands #1 and #12. The Brigade has close connections with the team itself, and is consulted by management on instrumental decisions, such as changing the team logo, and planning events with the community.

Rivalry with Maccabi Tel Aviv

Since the founding of the club in 1943, Hapoel Jerusalem has developed a major rivalry with Tel Aviv's leading basketball club Maccabi Tel Aviv. Throughout the years, many games between the two teams became a part of the 'Hall of Fame' of Israeli basketball. The rivalry between the teams is very deep and emotional. Due to its vast size, the Pais Arena has brought Israel's largest basketball rivalry to a whole new level.

Malha Arena (1985–2014)

See main article: article and Malha Arena. When Hapoel Jerusalem was founded, it initially played in a small court on Histadrut Street, in the city center, before moving to the Jerusalem International YMCA arena. In the mid-1950s, it moved to the only indoor arena in Jerusalem at that time, "the Straus Arena," in the Histadrut building, on Straus Street. Malha Arena was used as Hapoel Jerusalem's home area from 1985 to 2014. It has a seating capacity of 3,000 seats, with 2,540 seats in its lower tier, an additional 460 seats in its upper tier. With its small size, the arena traps in noise, and distracts the opposing team. This gives a boost to players towards the end of the game when they need it most, according to the former head coach of Hapoel Jerusalem, Oded Kattash.

Pais Arena (2014–present)

See main article: article and Pais Arena. Former Mayor of Jerusalem, and Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert, proposed the master plan for the arena in 2004, and it took ten years to build. Though the Pais Arena is less than two kilometers from the team's previous home, which was opened in 1985, it is exponentially larger. The arena features 11,000 seats, four times as many as in Goldberg Arena, and all the modern amenities expected of a modern basketball venue. The stadium has twelve corporate boxes, each listed for $100,000 per season. The site was chosen far back, but the building only took place in recent years. With an eye towards what the future might bring, the arena has been built to EuroLeague standards. Playing in the EuroLeague in the next few years, is a goal that the team has publicly set for itself.[12] The Pais Arena was opened in the 2014–15 season.

Sponsors

The team's main corporate sponsor is Bank Yahav. Secondary sponsors include Givova, Prima hotels.[13]

Current roster

Depth chart

Notable players

Head coaches

Season by season

SeasonTierLeagueIsraeli CupLeague CupEuropean competitions
1991–921Premier Leaguealign=center 5thEightfinalist
1992–93align=center 4thSemifinalist
1993–94bgcolor=#e1b384 align=center 3rdSemifinalist
1994–95align=center 7thSemifinalist
1995–96bgcolor=silver align=center 2ndbgcolor=gold Champions
1996–97bgcolor=silver align=center 2ndbgcolor=gold Champions
1997–98align=center 4thbgcolor=efefef
1998–99bgcolor=silver align=center 2ndbgcolor=silver Runner-up3rd
1999–00align=center 7thbgcolor=silver Runner-up
2000–01bgcolor=silver align=center 2ndbgcolor=silver Runner-up
2001–02align=center 3rdbgcolor=silver Runner-upbgcolor=#e1b384 bgcolor=#e1b384 align=center
2002–03align=center 8thSemifinalist
2003–04align=center 5thbgcolor=silver Runner-upbgcolor=goldbgcolor=gold align=center
2004–05align=center 5thEightfinalist
2005–06bgcolor=silver align=center 2ndbgcolor=silver Runner-upbgcolor=#e1b384 bgcolor=#e1b384 align=center
2006–07bgcolor=silver align=center 2ndbgcolor=gold Championsbgcolor=#e1b384 3rd
2007–08align=center 5thbgcolor=gold Championsbgcolor=silver Runner-up
2008–09align=center 4thSemifinalistbgcolor=gold Champions
2009–10bgcolor=#e1b384 align=center 3rdEightfinalistbgcolor=gold Champions
2010–11bgcolor=#e1b384 align=center 3rdQuarterfinalistbgcolor=silver Runner-up
2011–12align=center 6thEightfinalistSemifinalist
2012–13align=center 4thSemifinalistSemifinalist
2013–14bgcolor=#e1b384 align=center 3rdEightfinalistbgcolor=silver Runner-up
2014–15bgcolor=gold align=center 1stbgcolor=silverRunner-upbgcolor=gold Champions
2015–16bgcolor=silver align=center 2ndEightfinalistQuarterfinalist
2016–17bgcolor=gold align=center 1stbgcolor=silver Runner-upbgcolor=gold Championsbgcolor=#e1b384 bgcolor=#e1b384 align=center
2017–18bgcolor=#e1b384 align=center 3rdSemifinalistQuarterfinalist
2018–19Semifinalistbgcolor=gold ChampionsSemifinalist
2019–20Semifinalistbgcolor=goldChampionsbgcolor=goldChampions
2020–21QuarterfinalistSemifinalistSemifinalist
2021–22SemifinalistQuarterfinalistSemifinalistPlay-ins
2022–23Semifinalistbgcolor=gold ChampionsSemifinalistbgcolor=silver bgcolor=silver align=centerRunner-up
2023–24Semifinalistbgcolor=gold Championsbgcolor=gold Champions

Honors

Total titles: 16

Domestic

Israeli Championships

State Cup

League Cup

European

Winners (1): 2003–04

Semifinalist (2): 2005–06, 2016–17

Runner-up (1): 2022–23

Semifinalist (1): 2001–02

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hapoel Jerusalem BC . TheSportsDB.com.
  2. Web site: Basketball – Hapoel Jerusalem (Israel): palmares, results and name. www.the-sports.org.
  3. Web site: 2003-04 - Welcome to Eurocup . 2014-08-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140414030807/http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/competition/seasons/2003-04 . April 14, 2014 . mdy-all .
  4. Web site: 2008–09 Club Profile: Hapoel Jerusalem. 7DAYS EuroCup. December 8, 2023 .
  5. News: Amar'e Stoudemire May Head to Israel After Contract. The Wall Street Journal. April 15, 2014. August 18, 2014.
  6. News: Berman. Marc. Amar'e may leave Knicks for Jerusalem team after 2015. The Sydney Morning Herald. April 14, 2014. August 18, 2014.
  7. Web site: Amar'e Stoudemire joins Hapoel Jerusalem!. Hapoel.co.il. August 1, 2016. August 1, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160805181604/http://hapoel.co.il/en/article/1053. August 5, 2016. dead.
  8. Web site: Hapoel Jerusalem. Amar'e Stoudemire.
  9. Web site: Rebuilding in full-swing at Hap J'lem; Franco, Smith incoming. The Jerusalem Post . June 23, 2014 .
  10. News: Sinai. Allon. Hapoel Jerusalem handed Euroleague qualifying berth. The Jerusalem Post. June 26, 2014. August 18, 2014.
  11. Web site: Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings . Eurobasket LLC.
  12. News: Sachs. Frankie. The Club Scene: Hapoel Jerusalem looks to bright future. https://web.archive.org/web/20140324033926/http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/features/club-scene/i/134422. dead. March 24, 2014. Eurocup Basketball. March 21, 2014. September 9, 2014.
  13. Web site: כ.א.ל במו"מ מתקדם לאימוץ הפועל ירושלים. כ.א.ל במו"מ מתקדם לאימוץ הפועל ירושלים. June 20, 2014.

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