Maccabi Tel Aviv welcomes Zalgiris to Yad Eliyahu on Thursday (21:05) to open up the 2022/23 Euroleague season as both teams will be looking to get off to a solid start in continental action.

One of the players who will get much attention from the yellow-and-blue fans will be point guard Keenan Evans who played for Maccabi last season in whats as his second campaign in Israel.

The 26-year old averaged 8.2 points and 3.5 assists in his maiden season in the continent’s top competition and is looking to take the next step in his young career this coming year in Lithuania.

Just ahead of tip-off, The Sports Rabbi spoke to Evans about his time with Maccabi, the highs and the lows, the fans as well as his new team Zalgiris.

How are things with Zalgiris?
It’s good. I feel they recruited a good group of guys and we have some good coaches here. It’s a family feel with a great historical organization. We have gotten off to good start in the domestic LKL league which is great as well.

How did you end up signing with them?
During the whole process while I was waiting for Maccabi you see players getting released and teams started calling me. I spoke to the general manager who told me about the role and the history of the club and where they want to get back to. Hearing about having a bigger role is also a chance for me to continue to get better.

What type of responsibility will you have?
As a point guard you are already the captain on the floor. The general manager and the coach have given me a lot of responsibility and they told me that I will be a big part of the campaign. They said we go as you go.

What are your goals with the team?
I just want to win and that starts with taking things day by day and not looking too far ahead. Of course you want to make playoffs but I am taking it day by day and getting better as we try to get into the top 8. The playoff atmosphere was great last season and I really want to bring back that winning culture for the fans.

How do you feel entering the season with a year of Euroleague experience under your belt?
It feels good and more comfortable with a better understanding of the game a bit more. It feels good going into the second season and it’s another year to prove that you are better than you were last year.

What can you say about head coach Maksvytis Kazys?
He is a really good guy and knows his basketball. He has a chill personality until go time when he is locked in and focused and if we start off slow he will get on us. He instills positive energy to his players and he believes in them and puts people in the position to do great.

How strange will it be starting the season in Tel Aviv but this time as a visitor?
It’s pretty strange because it’s always going to be weird playing against your former team. My first Winner League game was against Hapoel Haifa so it’s always funny that this would happen again. It should be fun on the opposite end and there will be a great atmosphere but you want to come out with a win at the end of the day.

Were you disappointed to not continue with Maccabi?
As a player you are always disappointed when you have to switch teams. I respect it and I probably would have done the same thing. When there is a new coach and he wants his guys and to be able to hand pick the guys that will effect your record. It’s a tough business and if you have a bad start you can get fired at a club that expects greatness. Everyone in life wants that.

Are you surprised that they built a brand new squad?
New coach, new players and Maccabi wants to get back to winning. Also us not winning the Israeli league is huge for them and we knew that changes were coming after that.

How tough was the entire season with Maccabi with its ups and downs?
It was an interesting season and basically it was the strong survive type. Yesterday doesn’t matter anymore and you have to take it day by day. There were times you couldn’t see the light and you had to make a way to see it. But it helps you build character and you have to keep going. It was a good lesson.

Were there issues between the players?
There were normal issues between the players and when you are losing everyone is frustrated. It was more on the court issues and we had to be better. Look for me here and I understand you better when you say it this way. Learning how certain players wanted to be communicated to. When there is a 7-8 game losing streak there are tensions and frustrations because we all want to win. If the coach gets fired and you never know who can get released.

What went wrong in the Real Madrid series?
We could have played better in general, including me personally I wish that I could have played better. We were going up against a great team and they had some great reads on our game plan. We tried to change it up but it showed you why they are Real Madrid.

How did that effect the rest of the Israeli season and losing to Bnei Herzliya in the semifinals?
Yes. People were still hurting from that loss against Real Madrid because we wanted to win so bad. The energy is always going to be different between the Euroleague and the domestic league so it’s always a tough deal when you know that the Euroleague isn’t coming back and you have to wait for next season.

What will you take from Giannis Sfairopoulos and Avi Even?
They helped me see the game of basketball in a different eye as to how the Euroleague attacks the reads and the also the confidence they began to instill with me. Working with Avi one-on-one before he was the coach was great and he is a genius, breaking down stuff for me as to not being so robotic and free. He did a lot for me.

What are the highlights that you want to remember from your time with Maccabi and in Israel in general?
Living on the beach was different and I will miss that as well as the good food and the people. Every location you go there are memories. From the basketball aspect, filling the arena and the chants by the fans gives you the chills. You miss the friends that you made and we had some fun games and fun runs. It was my first Euroleague season and I went to the playoffs so I will always remember and appreciate that.

Are you looking forward to matching up with Lorenzo Brown or anyone else in particular?
I am looking forward to matching up against everybody and especially John D! It’s been a while and I will be excited to matchup against everybody.

Any love for good friend and former teammate Speedy Smith who is now with Hapoel Jerusalem?
I wish he could come to the game on Thursday but he has to play Holon on Friday so he has a late practice. But that’s my guy and I am happy he’s in Israel that they got their first win. He is one of the players that I wish I could play with again.

Do you have a message for the fans?
Just a big thank you and welcoming me in my first Euroleague season while standing with me and team during the highs and lows. I am forever sorry for not winning the Israeli title but a big thank you to everyone and I am excited to see them again. They were great and were behind us through the entire losing streak and losing in the last playoff game. They were with us through the tough times and the good times so nothing but love for Maccabi fans.