When Justin Smith first signed in Israel, basketball diehards weren’t quite sure what to make of him. On one hand, he wasn’t tall or big enough to be a “classic” center. On the other, he wasn’t a threat from beyond the arc. So what exactly could be expected from him?

Nearly three years have passed since then. Smith moved from Hapoel Holon to Hapoel Jerusalem and has become a key part of the team. In a special interview ahead of the semifinal series, he talks about life in Israel during the war, the traumatic loss to Turk Telekom, his relationship with Yonatan Alon, and revisits exactly what happened before his huge basket against Maccabi Tel Aviv in last year’s final.

But first, I asked Justin to summarize the season in two words.

“The first thing that comes to mind is ‘very difficult.’ It was a season somewhat similar to other seasons I’ve experienced here, but also different. There was the EuroCup elimination and a lot of other things happened. There were extreme highs and lows. We finally managed to return to playing EuroCup games in Israel, at home, and then the war started. After that came the quarterfinal loss. It was a very turbulent period. I think ‘ups and downs’ is a good way to describe the season.”

Israel is not an easy country and the last three years have been among the most difficult in its history. I grew up here, so in some ways I’m used to it, but for you it’s different. What’s it like living in Israel?

“I’d say that in my first year here, I was thrown straight into that complexity. October 7 happened about a month and a half after I arrived in Israel. Since then, I think I’ve just gotten used to it. You learn to accept reality as it is. But despite all the complexities, Israel has been my home for the last three years, and I enjoy living here. I’ve simply learned to adapt to the environment.”

A year ago, in the final against Maccabi, you scored one of the biggest baskets in club history. What were you thinking when the coach drew up the play? And what did you feel immediately afterward?

“When the coach drew up the play, I honestly thought I was just going to be a decoy. I didn’t think the alley-oop would be there. The play was designed for me to draw two defenders to the rim so Jared Harper would get an open shot. But I stayed open and Roi Huber made an incredible pass. That basket gave us momentum heading into overtime and in overtime we managed to win. After the victory, what I mainly felt was relief.”

A few hours later, the entire country woke up to sirens during the Iranian attack. Where were you when the alarms started?

“I was just sitting at home when the sirens began. At first, I thought to myself, ‘Okay, it’s not that bad. Maybe I’ll go to the safe room.’ But then I checked Twitter and said to myself, ‘Wow, this is different.’”

Were you scared?

“Yes, I was scared. I think that was the most afraid I’ve been since October 7. Over time, you get used to the sirens. You go into the safe room, come out afterward and nothing happened. My family called and asked what was going on and whether I was okay. I told them, ‘I’m okay. I’ll be okay. It looks bad, but everything will probably be fine.’”

This season was interrupted again because of the war. Where were you this time?

“I had flown home during the national team break and was on my way back, but I missed my flight. Around three in the morning, I got the alerts. I thought to myself that it was crazy. Then I saw that the plane I was supposed to be on had turned around mid-flight, somewhere over Italy or Greece and gone back.”

Was there a difference between experiencing it from inside Israel and seeing it from the outside?

“Yes, it’s really strange. When you’re here, it feels less dramatic. But when you’re outside the country, even if you’ve already lived here, you get swept up a little by the American media. You tell yourself, ‘Wow, this looks bad.’ It was a very strange experience because I had never experienced it from the outside before. Now I understand much better why people back home are always asking if I’m okay and what’s going on.”

Was it easy to decide to return to Israel?

“No, it wasn’t an easy decision. But I’m glad I made it. The main thing for me was that I already know what life is like here. I’ve been through this several times before, and I know I can handle it. I told my family I was coming back, and they had to accept it. So no, it wasn’t an easy decision, but I’m happy I returned.”

You came back from the break and are perhaps playing the best basketball of your career. What changed?

“The way the EuroCup season ended was, for me, one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever gone through in basketball. Maybe the toughest loss I’ve ever experienced. I know everyone in the club felt it, and so did the fans. It was just devastating. Obviously, you can’t get that game back, but I wanted to make up for what happened—or at least do the only thing you can do: try to win and play better. Even now, months later, that loss still hurts.”

You were named Sixth Man of the Year. What does that award mean to you? And how do you feel about that role on the team?

“I think it’s nice to get recognition. No matter what field it’s in, it’s always nice when people appreciate what you do. But the thing I’m most proud of is that I accepted my role and was able to excel in it. When you’re growing up, you’re taught that you should start in the lineup, but last season I actually became very comfortable coming off the bench. I carried that into this season and told myself, ‘This is my role.’ It allows me to focus on what the team needs from me.”

Tell us a little about your relationship with Yonatan Alon.

“That’s my guy. He lets me be myself and I really appreciate that. He has a personal relationship with each one of us. That’s something I value a lot in coaches. Honestly, at this level, you don’t always find that. I think he genuinely cares about each of us as people, and that’s special.”

I’m sure you’ve seen all the rumors about the head coaching position for next season. What do you think about them?

“Yes, I’ve seen the rumors. But I don’t pay too much attention to them. Right now, I’m focused on the playoffs and trying to win a championship. Whatever happens in the summer will happen in the summer. At the moment, all that matters to us is finishing this season in the best way possible.”

You’ll be a free agent this summer. Would you like to stay in Israel, maybe in Jerusalem next season as well?

“As I said, Israel has been my home for the last three years. I’ve really enjoyed living here. It’s a great club. They’ve treated me exceptionally well throughout my time here. We have great fans, and this place means a lot to me. But again, I’m not focused on next season right now. I’m focused on finishing this season strong, and then we’ll see what happens in the summer.”

Do you believe Hapoel Jerusalem can win the championship?

“Yes. Absolutely. I think we’ve shown throughout the season how good we can be, especially when the pressure is high. I think we can compete with any team, and we’ve shown that all year long. I’m very excited about this opportunity and hope we can finish the job. We have unfinished business from last season.”