Maccabi Tel Aviv had a a number of players land in Israel on Wednesday as both Uroš Trifunović and Jimmy Clark were welcomed by the club for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign.

Uros Trifunovic, arrives at the yellow-and-blue after having played for Tofos last season while the swingman began in career at Partizan Belgrade. With that the Serbian is happy to be back in the Euroleague.

“I feel great and like I said when I signed, I am so grateful for the opportunity and I’m thankful for everyone believing in me. I’m most happy about the fan base like this and it’s crazy the love that I’ve seen since I landed which is very nice. I just can’t wait to put on the jersey. It’s one of the best clubs in Europe. In the top 3 history wise so of course I cannot say no to Maccabi.”

Trifunovic will do what is necessary for him to be an impact player under Head Coach Oded Katash, “Whatever I need to bring for us to be successful if it’s offense If it’s defense, shooting, rebounding, whatever. I really needed that year in Turkey and I’m just happy to be here now. But playing for Maccabi is a dream come true. Since you are a kid you watch big teams and when I was a kid I remember watching Tyrese Rice and all the Maccabi players. It’s a dream come true it feels unreal and I’m just so happy.”

Maccabi fans are known to be some of the best in the continent the 24-year old explained, “It’s unbelievable. I played 2 times in Menora with Partizan and like I said I cannot wait to play in front of these fans especially big games. I hope that soon we will be able to play the Euroleague over there and I know how much the fans mean to the team. In Partizan, I know how much it means but In Maccabi it’s amazing and I’m grateful that I’m here.”

Trifunovic and Hapoel Tel Aviv star guard Vasilije Micic have been in touch and he’s looking to take the rivalry to the court this season, “I spoke to micic. He knew that I was signed and I know that he’s going to play for Hapoel. I’m going to do my best to beat him. He’s a good friend of mine but on the court we are going to try to beat them of course.”

Jimmy Clark also arrived in Israel as the guard moved from Bnei Herzliya to Maccabi in the middle of last season. As he readies to begin his first full campaign, the 24-year spoke about returning to Israel.

“It feels good to be back in the city,” Clark began. “Having the fans around especially greeting you to come in, so I just feel like it’s great energy especially for this upcoming season. I’m ready for it.”

While there are some holdovers, there are also plenty of new faces with Maccabi this coming year as Clark spoke about some of those changes, “I just feel like we’re coming in with a different approach. I feel like we had a good approach last year, we didn’t get the outcome we wanted. But I feel like this year we’re going to put some things together, especially with the help of the fans, the energy and the atmosphere that’s going to be in the crowd this season. I can’t wait.”

There are a number of NBA players who gave joined the squad as well, “I think it’s going to add great energy to the team, more experience. We have a couple of guys that are older, so just being able to learn from those guys and the NBA experience they’re bringing over here along with guys that are already playing overseas – I think it would be really great for our team, for the program and the fans. I think it would all be good for us.”

Clark missed the club over the offseason and is happy to be back, “I missed it a lot. Over the summer I was telling them I couldn’t wait to get back, so I’m just happy to be back now. I’m ready.”