Maccabi Tel Aviv is readying for the new season ahead as their Euroleague campaign opens up this coming week when they visit ASVEL Villeurbanne in France. With great expectations for Oded Katash’s squad this coming year, the yellow-and-blue have assembled a roster that should be competitive game in and game out. The squad combines a number of holdovers from last season along with a good amount of newcomers who will look to take Maccabi to the next level, advance to the postseason and then hopefully to the Final Four as they look to win their first continental title since 2014.

One of Maccabi’s new recruits is Keaton Wallace who is making his first foray into international hoops after having played in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks. Just ahead of tipoff, The Sports Rabbi sat down with Wallace to find out what the 27-year old guard brings to the table and how he will be the difference maker for the club as they look to reach the promised land.

“I’m excited,” Wallace began at the Hadar Yosef Training Center in Tel Aviv which also hosted an open practice that saw close to 1,000 fans come and celebrate the new season. “This is my first time playing in Europe and I’m excited to be a part of Maccabi Tel Aviv. Maccabi Tel Aviv has been known for historic winning and I’m ready to be a part of the culture. Open practice was amazing. I haven’t seen a crowd like that for an open practice. We had a lot of people cheering, chanting our names, flares going. It was an experience, I had a great time. It was almost like a celebration or a party.”

In Wallace’s first exhibition game, he scored 20 points and opened the eyes of many around him as he will have an opportunity to take his game to the next level especially with guard Jimmy Clark being unavailable due to an injury.

“I’m still learning a lot of the concepts and a lot of the plays. I’m adjusting to European basketball and along with the coaching staff have been in the gym working on our game and things like that. Working on shooting the ball, passing and driving. So a little bit of it showed, but there’s still a lot more progress to be made. But ultimately I hope that as a team we can reach our goals which is to win every game and keep developing as a team along with building chemistry that will help us do it.”

General Manager Claudio Coldebella had a busy summer assembling the squad as Wallace explained how he came on board, “I talked to Caludio late July and I ended up committing and then signed the deal in early August. He expressed to me how he enjoys Tel Aviv and Israel and explained to me how there’s winning culture here, how they won the domestic league last season, played well in the Euroleague and have had a lot of success in the past. I’m just ready and excited to be a part of that culture. I was on the phone with my family as well and they supported the idea of coming here to Israel and playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv. I’ve played in the States all of my life, the opportunity to play overseas just presented itself and it made sense. I’m happy to be here.”

Of course with the recent conflicts over the past few years it’s never simple to bring in new players but Coldebella was able to explain what the situation could be like for the Texas native, “That was definitely a concern. Claudio expressed the things, if sirens and things like that go off then you go into the shelter and things like that. Where I’m from in the States we have tornadoes so I kind of see the comparison in that with the tornado drill growing up versus here, sirens and with the war you go into the shelter. Just that kind of comparison is how I’m kind of looking at the situation. Of course, it could be a lot more serious with it being a war but my family was okay with it. Claudio expressed how there is some safety risks but for the most part there’s not too much to just worry or panic about.”

Unfortunately, since October 2023 there have been very few Euroleague games at home in Tel Aviv and there is hope that this will change in the near future, but until then Wallace understands that the team will be playing their home games abroad.

“I really hope we do have our home games here. Just with the open practice, being able to experience what some of the fans are like. From my understanding we’re not playing too many games here in Tel Aviv and we’re playing in Belgrade, Serbia. I would love to experience what a home crowd is like in the home city here in Tel Aviv.”

Oded Katash is known to be an excellent coach for guards and is able to get the best out of them which is something that Wallace is very much looking forward to, “Coach Katash has been a big part of my development so far. Learning his plays, concepts and philosophies. I enjoy the process of learning and it’s so far so good. The philosophy has the ball in the guard’s hands a lot, running off of pick and rolls, playing with screens, making the right passes, right plays, scoring the ball and things like that. I’m enjoying learning and adjusting my game to be successful here with the team and in the league.”

Do you think he can coach in the NBA?

“Of course. For me to say he can’t doesn’t make sense. A lot of people thought I couldn’t make it to the NBA and I did, so course he can be an NBA coach. Clearly I haven’t spent too much time with him, I’ve only been here for two weeks, but just saying somebody can’t do something – nobody knows. Most definitely he can be an NBA coach.”

As for adjusting his game from the NBA to Europe, Wallace is aware that this doesn’t happen overnight and will take a bit of time, but he is very confident in his ability to do so, “I haven’t been here long, I’ve only been here for a few weeks. But what I have noticed is that there are two bigs in the lineup, so that is an adjustment. The last time I played in a similar system like that was in college, so I should pick up on concepts and things like that quicker. I’m ready to learn and ready to adjust and take on what’s next in my career.”

Wallace has been welcomed with open arms by the club and that is also going to play a factor in his adjustment process, “Everybody here has been cool and everybody has been helpful. The returning players have helped me with learning the plays and things like that, learning my way around town. They’ve been giving me restaurant suggestions. They’ve been giving me places to go, where to go on the beach and things like that. Everybody in the organization has actually been helpful, teammates as well. Everybody has been good to me which helps out a lot. Guys who have played both in the NBA and in Europe have had success in both leagues as well. So just being able to adjust and adapt makes you even more dangerous as a player. I’m ready to learn and add that skill set and development to my game as well.”

With so many new imports in the league, Wallace is fortunate that he will see some familiar faces on some of the other teams including David Roddy and Amir Coffey, “Yeah, I’ve talked to all of them and I was actually supposed to link up with David the other night, but timing, practice and things like that just didn’t line up. But I’ve definitely been in contact with those guys. Our relationships are bigger than basketball. I communicated with them before I even signed or came here to Tel Aviv. It’s a family with those relationships. We’ll definitely get together on the court and off the court. Those are my guys.”

This past summer was one of celebration for Wallace as he got married, “It was amazing. I got married about a month ago and I’m ready, excited. I have my wife and my son here with me In Tel Aviv so it’s been an amazing journey for all of us and we’re able to experience these things together. It’s just us now. There’s nobody else to lean on. No family here with us right now besides us. We’re ready and excited for the next journey.”

Wallace began playing basketball when he was four years old and then was part of a local team in the area that he grew up in. His parents were his role models and they instilled confidence in him and are who he still looks up to. In addition, Wallace’s younger brother happens to be 2025 NBA champion Cason Wallace who plies his trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder which is something he is very proud of.

“It means a lot for your younger sibling to want to be like you, follow in the things that you do and that’s interested in the things that you do, I don’t take that for granted. My younger brother always was with me when I was growing up. When I was in high school, I brought him with me to the gym, to the grocery store, to go pick up some food for the family. I brought him everywhere I went. If I was kicking it with my friends, I brought my brother with me and it’s still like that to this day. I’m proud of him. He’s still got a lot more things to develop in life and in his game. This is just the beginning for him as well.”

Wallace attended the University of Texas at San Antonio and played with Roadrunners for four years, “UTSA taught me a lot. I had a great time being there and that was part of my foundation and getting to the G League, NBA and now here in EuroLeague. That was a crucial part of my development. I played for head coach Steve Henson, assistant coaches Adam Hood, Mike Peck and a few others. They played a big part in my development, teaching me how to be a man and things like that. I was by myself and they developed my game in basketball as well.”

After going undrafted in 2021 it was off to the G-League where Wallace looked to find a way to the world’s greatest league, “The G-League was a humbling experience for me. Being at UT San Antonio, I was the man for four years. Going to the G-League was an ego hit, a pride hit. But Once I got there, I understood that there were a lot of players in the G-League that deserved to be in the NBA. There was a lot of talent there and me being ignorant to the league was eye-opening for me. I understood that I had to develop my game and be even better because the guys that were there already were NBA players. I realized that I wasn’t an NBA player yet. The G-League actually developed my game in a lot more ways than I thought it would have. I’m thankful for going to the G-League.”

Although Wallace went undrafted, his brother Cason was selected 10th overall and Keaton had the opportunity of sitting in the green room which was an incredible experience, “That was amazing. My younger brother being in the NBA draft is big time. He got drafted lottery number 10, so just being able to share that experience was great. Being an older brother, being the first to go to college and things like that, you miss a lot of things. You miss birthdays, first games, first practices and things like that from your siblings. My family showing up is a big part of our love language. Just being available, showing presence when you’re invited somewhere. That was a big key moment for me, being a big brother.”

Wallace made his debut with the Atlanta Hawks in October 2024 against his brother and the Thunder which was a special moment, “It was great. For your younger brother to be in the NBA with you is amazing. A lot of people can’t say that their actual sibling or kinfolk is actually in the same league as you at the highest level of anything. Just sharing the court with him was a great experience. That was one of the highlights of my season.”

At the end of that season, Cason captured the NBA title which was also a fine moment in time for Keaton, “They can win another one, to be honest. His role is expanding. He’s doing a great job there at OKC. They’re doing a great job with his development as well. He’s continuing to grow and improve his role in his team. Just winning another championship would be amazing. He has one under his belt. A lot of great players that’s played in the NBA, some Hall of Famers, have never won an NBA championship. For him to have that on his resume and actually be a key part of winning that championship, having real minutes in that championship, speaks volumes about him and his game.”

Cason was also a part of Wallace’s decision to join Maccabi, “I spoke to him a lot about coming here. There was a lot of things going on in between time. I was getting married, trying to pack my house to move here. There was a lot of things that were going on at the time. But yes, it was a part of making that decision.”

Wallace hasn’t taken anything about his NBA career for granted and shared some key moments during the two seasons he was with the Hawks, “A lot of people can’t say that they’ve ever had a triple-double. In basketball, it was great. The game presented opportunities, and I took advantage of those opportunities during the game. I looked up and I had a triple-double. When I got the NBA contract with Atlanta and Shams Charania tweeted about it was also important, a key moment for me. Just being able to sign an NBA contract was a big deal for me. It was a dream come true. I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

Playing for coach Quin Snyder was a very important part of Wallace’s career as well, “Quin Snyder was a great coach for me and I still respect him to this day. I texted him and he texted me a few days ago. He called me before my wedding day. We have a great relationship. He was part of the process of me getting to sign a contract with Atlanta. We have a great relationship.”

For now, Wallace is here in Israel with Maccabi and leaving the NBA wasn’t the end of the world for him at this juncture in time, “I would say it wasn’t a negative moment for me. My career just presented another opportunity. I’m excited to take on a new challenge and a new direction in my career. If the NBA is the next step, then the NBA is the next step. Right now, I’m where my feet are. I’m here in Israel, Tel Aviv, playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv. That’s what I’m focused on right now.”

Wallace also has a clothing brand which is something he excited to introduce to the fans here in Israel, “It’s called Lareneg Redael. Go check us out online. You can also look at my Instagram bio. You can go shop with us. ALNT, All Leaders Not Talking, Lareneg Redael.”

The bottom line is, Wallace has come to love Israel in a the short time that he has been in the Holy Land and while he enjoys the food and the restaurants he also knows that he’s here to be a part of a winner and that the most important domestic game in the Tel Aviv Derby.

“I’ve heard that we don’t like Hapoel. That’s all I know. I can’t wear red.”