Maccabi Tel Aviv welcome Bayern Munich to open up the Yellow & Blue’s Euroleague slate for the 2021/22 campaign at Yad Eliyahu on Thursday at 21:05. While Ioannis Sfairopoulos’s squad features a number of former Bayern players including Jalen Reynolds who spoke to The Sports Rabbi ahead of the season, Andrea Trinchieri’s team will also have one ex-Maccabi big man in Othello Hunter.

The veteran center will return to Tel Aviv after two years with the Israeli club where he averaged roughly 9 points game in 54 Euroleague appearances as he brought veteran leadership to the team which would have reached the playoffs in his first season had the COVID-19 pandemic not occurred in March of 2020.

Just before he steps onto the court against his previous team, Hunter reflected on his time in Yellow & Blue, the ups and downs, what he will bring to his new club and his new adventure ahead in Germany.

“I’m really excited to get back and start the season,” Hunter began. “I think we have a great team that can make the Final Four. I play to win. I feel like if everyone stays healthy we have a chance to win everything.”

Health is obviously a serious concern with the coronavirus still rearing its ugly head all over the planet including Hunter’s new team in Bayern Munich as a number of players will be missing for the season opener due to contracting COVID-19.

“We’re going to have some players out but I don’t think it will affect us. We still have the guys in the roster to win games. It’s going to be a tough matchup and it’s all about defense. It’s going to be an ugly game.”

Behind the bench this season for Bayern will once again be Andrea Trinchieri who is arguably one of the most colorful coaches in the game, but also one with a brilliant basketball mind.

“He’s really a genius when it comes to the basketball stuff. I don’t think he gets this type of credit, but he’s great at what he does. Ioannis (Maccabi coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos) is tough. This guy (Trinchieri) knows how to press your buttons, be sarcastic and funny and defense is key. I just feel like coach Ioannis has a different mindset.”

As for what he will bring to the club, Hunter’s wealth of experience will be king for the Bayern squad as he already knew last season with Maccabi was going to be his last in Israel, “We kind of already knew that I wasn’t going to come back. I’m almost 36 and an older man. I moved on. I just try to bring leadership and lead the guys with my experience.”

One of the highlights for Hunter was his first day in the Holy Land as a Maccabi Tel Aviv player he explained, “When I landed in Tel Aviv with the fans going crazy, it surprised me a lot. I’ll definitely remember the fans the most.”

Once he gets on the floor with his former teammates, Hunter will be locked in despite still being in touch with many of them, “We joke all the time. I’m not a trash talker and I’ve never been one.”