Miki Berkovich, one of the greatest athletes in Israeli history, has been battling dementia for the past two and a half years. “At 70, Miki was still functioning well, doing almost everything and living nearly normally,” people close to the Berkovich family told ynet on Monday evening. They said the longtime symbol of Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball now requires close supervision and is unable to live the kind of life he had become accustomed to.
“It’s very frustrating and heartbreaking to see this,” the family associates said. “He was always in peak physical condition, always able to step onto the court, no matter what his age. He is the ultimate athlete, and it’s not easy to see Miki the great like this. It hurts.
“But on the other hand, he is so surrounded by love from his family, from his incredibly devoted children and from his wife, Shelly, who is always with him every step of the way. There is always someone with him in every situation. For example, Motti Aroesti and Tal Brody make sure to see him regularly. So in that sense, it is heartwarming as well.”
Miki Berkovich with Maccabi Tel Aviv chairman Shimon Mizrahi
(Photo: Oz Moalem)
Berkovich, 72, has made few public appearances in recent years and has received ongoing support from his wife, Shelly, his family, close friends and people at Maccabi Tel Aviv. One of his last public appearances was in 2024, when he received the Israel Prize.
Maccabi Tel Aviv chairman Shimon Mizrahi told ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth on Sunday: “It was very heartbreaking to discover that signs of the disease appeared about two years ago, although it was not apparent from his outward appearance or physique. Miki lives next door to me. I saw Tal Brody and Motti Aroesti taking him on many walks around the neighborhood, and I also saw him very frequently.”
Miki Berkovitz in a Maccabi Tel Aviv uniform
(Photo: Yossi Roth)
Doron Jamchi also spoke about Berkovich: “We respected his privacy over the past few years, but we remained in very close contact. We didn’t talk about basketball. We talked about my grandchildren and his grandchildren. I also met him quite a few times and saw the deterioration, and each time I would go home in tears. I haven’t seen him for many long months and I simply miss him.”