TJ Leaf landed in the Holy Land as the Maccabi Tel Aviv’s new big man, who was born in Israel to former Israeli league star Brad Leaf, is joining the yellow-and-blue for after having previously played in the United States and China. The 28-year old was welcomed by dozens of fans at Ben-Gurion Airport who gave a true feeling of being back at home.

Leaf, who was born in Tel Aviv, moved with his family at a young age to San Diego, California. The forward has already represented Israel in the past, leading the Under-18 national team to a silver medal in the 2015 Division B European Championship, where he was also named MVP. He played one season at UCLA before being selected 18th overall in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers.

After having spent three seasons in Indiana Leaf moved to the Portland Trail Blazers for the 2020/21 season and since then, he has played for several teams in China, most recently in Nanjing. This summer, he was included in the extended roster of the Israeli national team ahead of EuroBasket, but at this stage, he chose to focus on settling in the country and his new club.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Leaf said about finally signing with Maccabi Tel Aviv after many years of talk that he would join the club. “I’m really excited to be here to play in a place like this that has a lot of history and my family also has a lot of history in itself so it’s really exciting and I can’t wait to get things going.”

Brad Leaf, TJ’s father played in Israel roughly three decades ago with Maccabi Tel Aviv and that was something that the big man wanted to be able to do as well, “My dad and mom told me about the club and country my whole life and they live it here. It definitely came into the factor and it’s something I always wanted to do and I’m really glad that it was able to work out and for it to come to fruition. I’m excited to be here and I can’t wait to get this thing going, I want to start playing already.”

As for why the timing was finally right, Leaf added, “There are a lot of reasons but I think talking to Claudio Coldebella (Maccabi’s GM) and the coach, it was the right fit this time. Mentally and physically I’m in a great place now. Playing in the NBA and then China I got to experience a lot of things and I think it will be a great welcoming into European basketball as well.”

Leaf will no doubt be a fan favorite at Yad Eliyahu as he signed autographs galore for all of the kids that came out to greet him at the airport, “I’m excited and I know it a different type of basketball than elsewhere but I’m really excited for it to play in front of the fans. I talked to a lot of players that played here and my dad who played here thirty years ago in front of some of the best fans in the world. I’m excited to get to the arena and feel the energy in there so I think it will be a good season and I’m really excited for it.”

There had been discussions about what Leaf’s preferable position would be either at power forward or center, but he seemed fine with either one, “I’m comfortable to be anywhere on the court and I can do a number of things that could be matchup based depending ok who we are playing. Also the roster will be able to do a lot of different things so I’m excited to see how coach will fit the roster in and I have the utmost confidence in that.”

About ten years ago, a younger Leaf and younger Tamir Blatt played with one another on the Israel Under-18 National Team and now once again they will be able to team up for the yellow-and-blue, “I’m really excited and I talked to him a few weeks ago and he’s a guy tyat I had fun playing with ten years ago and I’m sure I’ll have fun playing with now. It’s going to be fun to see old faces that I’ve played with and known so I’m really excited to play with Tamir for sure.”

Leaf had been named to the extended Israel National Team roster for the Eurobasket, but he opted out and decided not to play as he explained why, “It was extremely difficult and I was at a point where I wasn’t completely healthy yet and not 100% so trying to go into something else not 100%. It’s something I definitely want to do in the future and I’m passionate about but the timing wasn’t perfect this time so I’m hoping in the future and with me getting my feet wet now in the Euroleague that was my main focus, adjusting to a new country that I haven’t lived and played in and to a new team, teammates and coaches, so that was the main focus. Now I’m 100% healthy and just ready to go so I’m excited.”