Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan (Hebrew: מכבי עירוני רמת גן, formerly Ironi Ramat Gan) is a professional basketball club based in Ramat Gan in the Tel Aviv District. The team currently plays in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, the top division of Israeli basketball. It plays at the Shalom Zisman Municipal sports Arena, which has a seating capacity for 1,400.
Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan | |||
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Leagues | Israeli Basketball Premier League Champions League | ||
Founded | 1946 | ||
Arena | Zisman Arena | ||
Capacity | 1,400[1] | ||
Location | Ramat Gan | ||
Team colors | White, Blue | ||
President | Hen Shniderman | ||
Head coach | Shmulik Brener | ||
Ownership | Municipality of Ramat Gan | ||
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History
editMaccabi Ramat Gan basketball club was formed in 1946. Since 1968, it has been permanent in the first league.
In 1972, it lost in the cup final to Maccabi Tel Aviv, 108–99, with Ramat Gan's star, Belgium-born Kamil Dirks, scoring a still-unbroken cup final record of 43 points.
In the seasons 1971–72 and 1972–73, it finished second in the league. The same happened in the 1982–83 season.
The club also took its first steps in the European Cup in the 1973–74 season. A notable game was its victory over Sinudyne Bologna. With one of the club's founders, Samuel Jacobson, as the coach and stars such as Larry Gordon and Bob Griffin, Ramat Gan gained a surprising victory in the result 114–94.
Its all-time leading scorer, Doron Jamchi, made his first steps in the club in 1978; he left to Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1985 after incredible years, with him being the league leading scorer for several seasons. Jamchi Is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Israeli Premier League.
In 1987–88, led by head coach Effi Birnbaum, the club lost again to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the cup final at 107–85.
In December 1989 Ramat Gan won the Israeli Basketball League Cup title after winning Hapoel Tel Aviv 83:80 at the final game with Milton Wagner scoring 30 pts.
In the 1996–97 season, after increasing pressure from the city mayor, Maccabi Ramat Gan merged with another team, Beitar Ramat Gan, and is now called Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan.
In 2001–02, it finished the season only second to Maccabi Tel Aviv, the champion.
In 2009–10, the team dropped to Liga Leumit after losing the relegation playoff in the Super League.
After a 13 years absence, Ramat Gan returned to the first league at the end of the 2022–2023 season, led by its former captain, now coach, Shmulik Brener .
Ramat Gan Return was a big success, it finished the 2023–4 season in the 3rd place and score its place in the BCL for the 2024–5 season.
Players
editDepth chart
editPos. | Starting 5 | Bench |
---|---|---|
C | Amin Stevens | Benaya Srour |
PF | Isaiah Miles | Yahal Melamed |
SF | Drew Crawford | Dori Sahar |
SG | Adam Ariel | Roberto Gallinat |
PG | Kendale McCullum | Roi Huber |
- The Israeli league rule requires every team to have at least one Israeli on the court at any time.
- There should be maximum 5 foreigners on a 12-men game sheet.
Notable players
edit- To appear in this section a player must have either:
- Set a club record or won an individual award as a professional player.
- Played at least one official international match for his senior national team or one NBA game at any time.
- Doron Jamchi
- Haim Starkman
- Bob Griffin
- Harold Keeling
- Milt Wagner
- Shmulik Brener
- Rodney Alexander
- Ben Altit
- Erick Barkley
- Earl Williams
- Mark Brisker
- Dror Cohen
- Nir Cohen
- Joe Dawson
- J.J Eubanks
- Danny Lewis
- James Gulley
- Isaac Rosefelt
- Andy Hill
- Sean Labanowski
- Itzik Ohanon
- Mike Carter
- Isaac Rosefelt
- Ruan Stik
- Chris Watson
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Ironi Kfar HaMaccabia Ramat Gan Eurobasket