An unimaginable tragedy in Israeli basketball, Raz Adam, who played for the Israel national team and currently Hapoel Galil Elyon, was killed in a car accident at the age of 26 years old.

Adam, born in 1999, had been one of Israel’s top basketball players over the past decade. He grew up in Elitzur Netanya and led Moshe Sharett High School in Netanya to a runner-up finish in the national high school championship during the 2016/17 season, earning MVP honors.

The guard played his first professional seasons with Netanya (2017/18–2019/20). Adam was also an important member of Israel’s Under-20 national team that won historic European Championships in both 2018 and 2019, including the 2019 tournament held in Israel.

He finished the 2019/20 season with Hapoel Tel Aviv and remained there for two more seasons. In 2022/23 he played for Ironi Ness Ziona and also participated in the Israel All-Star Game.

During the 2023/24 season, Adam led Ironi Kiryat Ata to a historic campaign, reaching the State Cup semifinals and the Israeli Premier League playoff semifinals. In that series, he sparked a comeback that gave Kiryat Ata a 1–0 lead in the best-of-three series with a road win over Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Adam suffered an injury early in the 2024/25 season that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Last summer he signed with Hapoel Galil Elyon, where he returned to the court. His final game was this past Sunday in an road matchup against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Adam also represented Israel at the youth and senior national team levels, most recently wearing the national team jersey this past February.

Statement from the Winner League (Israel Basketball Premier League):

The Winner League is shocked and deeply saddened by the death of Hapoel Galil Elyon’s Raz Adam.

Adam grew up in the youth department of Elitzur Ironi Netanya, joined the senior team at a young age, and helped the club earn promotion to the National League as a leading player. In the summer of 2020, after winning back-to-back European Championships with Israel’s Under-20 national team, he signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv, where he also became a fan favorite.

After one season with Ironi Ness Ziona, he took another major leap forward with Ironi Kiryat Ata, helping the club reach the playoff and State Cup semifinals while posting the best statistics of his career: 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and a 12.5 efficiency rating per game. He became one of the league’s standout players and also made his debut for the Israeli national team, appearing again in the most recent international window against Cyprus.

This season, after recovering from a difficult injury, he joined Hapoel Galil Elyon and averaged 11.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. In the team’s upcoming game on Sunday against his former club Kiryat Ata, he was supposed to receive a commemorative plaque for reaching 1,000 career points in the Winner League.

Raz was a prominent, charismatic, and beloved personality, both on and off the court. He was an important voice in Israeli basketball and someone who will always be remembered with a huge and captivating smile.

Israeli basketball has lost a beloved person. We share in the deep sorrow of his family, friends, and Hapoel Galil Elyon.

May his memory be blessed.

Ari Steinberg, Chairman of the Winner League:

> “We received the news of Raz’s death with shock and great pain. This is a sad day for all of Israeli basketball. On behalf of the league, I wish to send heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the basketball community of Hapoel Galil Elyon and beyond.”

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Statement from the Israel Basketball Association:

It is with great sorrow and shock that we received the news of the untimely death of Israel national team player Raz Adam.

Israeli basketball has lost a beloved person, a talented athlete, and a true fighter on and off the court.

Raz was a symbol of commitment, passion, and love for the game. Throughout his journey, he left a mark on his teammates, coaches, and everyone fortunate enough to know him through his special personality, fighting spirit, and ever-present smile.

Raz Adam was part of the Israel Under-20 team that won back-to-back European Championships, and he was also included in the final roster of the senior national team during the most recent February international window, where he played against Cyprus.

On behalf of the Israel Basketball Association, its management, and the entire basketball family in Israel, I wish to send heartfelt condolences to the Adam family, his friends, and all who loved him during this painful and difficult time.

May his memory be blessed.

Amos Frishman, Chairman, Israel Basketball Association

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Statement from Hapoel Galil Elyon:

Hapoel “Rivulis” Galil Elyon Basketball Club is shocked, grieving, and heartbroken upon learning of the untimely death of team player Raz Adam.

Raz was an inseparable part of the Hapoel Galil Elyon family — a beloved person, teammate, true professional, and someone with a huge heart off the court.

The difficult news struck all of us with shock and left enormous pain among the club’s staff, players, and fans.

The Hapoel “Rivulis” Galil Elyon family shares in the deep sorrow of the Adam family, embraces them during this difficult time, and sends heartfelt condolences.

May his memory be blessed.

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Statement from Elitzur Netanya:

Shock. Pain. Disbelief.

There are moments when words simply run out.

The heart refuses to accept it, the mind cannot process it, and reality feels impossible.

Raz Adam, a member of the Elitzur Netanya family, left us far too soon.

You left behind a smile, a huge heart, genuine love, and people who will never stop missing you.

The entire Elitzur Netanya community bows its head and shares in the heavy grief.

It is hard to believe, hard to process, hard to say goodbye.

May his memory be blessed 🕯

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Statement from Hapoel Tel Aviv:

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv Basketball Club is shocked and deeply saddened by the untimely death of former team player Raz Adam, who was killed tonight in a car accident.

Raz joined Hapoel during the 2019/20 season and played with the club through the end of the 2021/22 season, leaving behind emotional moments and many sporting achievements that will stay with us forever.

Dear Adam family, with broken and aching hearts, on behalf of the team’s fans, club employees, coaches, and players, we embrace you and share in your grief.

Raz Adam, may his memory be blessed.

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Hapoel Jerusalem:

Hapoel “Midtown” Jerusalem Basketball Club expresses deep sorrow over the tragic and unimaginable death of Raz Adam.

We share in the heavy mourning of the Adam family and Hapoel Galil Elyon, and send condolences and strength during these difficult moments.

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Maccabi Tel Aviv:

The Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball club family bows its head over the untimely passing of Raz Adam, Hapoel Galil Elyon player, who was killed in a car accident at only 26 years old.

We share in the grief of his family, friends, team, and the Israeli basketball community. We will always remember his warm smile, determination, and uncompromising competitiveness.

Raz Adam, may his memory be blessed

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Hapoel Be’er Sheva/Dimona:

Hapoel “Altshuler Shaham” Be’er Sheva/Dimona Basketball Club is shocked and pained by the tragic death of Hapoel Galil Elyon and Israel national team player Raz Adam.

We share in the sorrow of his family and the entire Israeli basketball family.

May his memory be blessed.

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Maccabi Rishon LeZion:

Devastating news

Raz Adam, a young and talented player whose whole life was ahead of him, has passed away in a terrible tragedy that left us all speechless.

Our hearts break in the face of this difficult news and immense loss.

We share in the grief of his family, loved ones, acquaintances, Hapoel Galil Elyon, and the entire basketball community.

May his memory be blessed

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Maccabi Ra’anana:

With great sorrow, we received the difficult news of the tragic death of Raz Adam, player for Hapoel Galil Elyon and Israel’s national teams.

This is a very sad day for Israeli basketball.

Raz was a kind, humble, and beloved person who represented his clubs, Israel’s national teams, and Israeli basketball with professionalism and a big heart.

Maccabi “Av-Gad” Ra’anana Basketball Club shares in the sorrow of the Adam family, his friends, and the entire basketball community in Israel.

May his memory be blessed.