TEL AVIV - Legendary NBA star Larry Bird landed in Israel Thursday evening and was the guest of honor at a European League game between local powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv and Cibona Zagreb.
Speaking at an impromptu press conference prior to the start of the game, Bird said he always wanted to come to Tel Aviv and watch Maccabi play. He said he looked forward to enjoying the game.
When asked whether Israeli basketball players have a chance of reaching the NBA, Bird said it is possible in the future, as there are a number of players who interest him.
Bird, who won several NBA championships with the Boston Celtics and cemented his status as one of basketball's all-time greats, is currently the Indiana Pacers' President and often watches European basketball games in a bid to identify promising European prospects.
During the European National Championship two years ago in Sweden, he attended several games in the framework of his scouting efforts.
Maccabi is reigning European champ
| Maccabi players celebrating yet another victory (Photo: AFP) |
Maccabi Tel Aviv, who is the reigning European Champion, has already guaranteed the top spot in its pool and is set to make a strong run for a repeat. The team's strongest rival appears to be the Russian CSKA Moscow.
Notably, this year's European Championship final will be held in Moscow.
Although Maccabi's roster includes some of the best players on the continent, it currently only has one Israeli-born player in its starting five, as the team's biggest stars are mostly American and European.
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