{"id":152400,"date":"2025-08-26T11:46:52","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T11:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/?p=152400"},"modified":"2025-08-26T11:46:52","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T11:46:52","slug":"proving-the-haters-wrong-itay-segev-readies-for-first-eurobasket-and-a-chance-to-stop-luka-doncic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/en\/proving-the-haters-wrong-itay-segev-readies-for-first-eurobasket-and-a-chance-to-stop-luka-doncic\/","title":{"rendered":"Proving the haters wrong: Itay Segev readies for first Eurobasket and a chance to stop Luka Doncic"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In Israeli basketball, there&#8217;s a fairly clear milestone at age 30 \u2014 a point where you&#8217;re suddenly no longer a \u201cpromising youngster\u201d but an \u201cexperienced veteran.\u201d This past July, Itay Segev also crossed that point and now, officially, he\u2019s no longer a kid. Still, the upcoming European Championship, Eurobasket 2025 will be his first appearance with the Israel National Team and the excitement is high.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m very excited, I really want to take part, to represent with pride. I\u2019m doing everything I can to make that happen,\u201d Segev began.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no question when the big man steps foot on the court in Poland and hears the HaTikva, the national anthem it will be a very emotional moment, \u201cChills. Listen, right now, part of our own flesh and blood is in hell. The entire country is in turmoil, really, there\u2019s not much to say, so at the very least, the chance to represent in times like these when there\u2019s maybe some way to bring a little joy to people back home, then that\u2019s truly the greatest honor.&#8221;<br \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_152092\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-152092\" src=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7401.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" class=\"size-full wp-image-152092\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7401.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7401-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7401-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7401-610x407.jpeg 610w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7401-1080x720.jpeg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-152092\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Itay Segev &#8211; Photo Credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div><br \/>\nThe team\u2019s preparation for the championship included community outreach events with children from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, IDF veterans and youngsters from the Druze community which was very important for the Kfar Tavor native.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s really, really important, because in at the end of the day that&#8217;s what it&#8217;s all about. We&#8217;re here for the people, for this country. Like I said, there are people who went through trauma, who are still living it every day and if we can help even a little, bring a bit of joy then that\u2019s the greatest privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Segev, Idan Zalmanson and Roman Sorkin are all the same age and have been competing for years for the same position, that of center on the national team which brings out a lot of spirit in the trio.<br \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_152074\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-152074\" src=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7392.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" class=\"size-full wp-image-152074\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7392.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7392-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7392-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7392-610x407.jpeg 610w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7392-1080x720.jpeg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-152074\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Itay Segev &#8211; Photo Credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n\u201cThere\u2019s healthy competition, like in any place. I think competition is something very positive as it always pushes you to be a little better than you thought you could be. The three of us are good friends and on the court we battle, but off the court we laugh and talk. So, it\u2019s a super healthy competition.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The 2016 Most Improved Player has seen his game develop over the years and has added various different aspects into his arsenal that can help the entire team on the floor and off of it as well.<br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m aggressive on defense and have very good rebounding ability. I think the fact that I know what I\u2019m good at and what I\u2019m not helps bring a lot of order to the squad. I try to bring experience and leadership in my own quiet way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Touching on the defensive aspect, that is certainly one of Segev\u2019s strongest points, \u201cIt was always really important to me to be dominant on defense. I think my physical abilities allow me to do that and it\u2019s something not a lot of people know how to bring to the table. There\u2019s a saying I always use: &#8216;Offense sells tickets, defense wins games and rebounding wins championships.&#8217; So I try to focus on the last two, because I understand that I play, it\u2019s first and foremost for defense.\u201d<br \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_152094\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-152094\" src=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7402.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" class=\"size-full wp-image-152094\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7402.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7402-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7402-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7402-610x407.jpeg 610w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7402-1080x720.jpeg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-152094\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Itay Segev &#8211; Photo Credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div><br \/>\nSegev explained that this was something he needed time to accept as when one is growing up scoring is always something that a focus is put on, \u201cAs a player, everyone wants to score and be in the spotlight. But as you mature, you understand that a team might have one, two, maybe three players who score, but what about everyone else? At the same time, you realize where you can truly excel. I found that niche and I\u2019m proud of it. Every time someone scores on me, it hurts and it bothers me. I think about it for three days and try to figure out how to fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The center has played with a number of teams over the course of his career and one of them was Maccabi Tel Aviv during Deni Avdija\u2019s first season with the senior team, when he was just 16. Now, Avdija is starring in the NBA and is about to begin his 6th season in the world\u2019s greatest league.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe did some crazy things, really,\u201d Segev said with a smile. \u201cI don\u2019t know if people remember how dominant he was in the Under-20 European Championship and in the youth league and he was two years younger than everyone else. That\u2019s insane. Once I saw him play and how he trained, I said, man, this kid is going to be amazing. Amazing.\u201d<br \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_152066\" style=\"width: 1289px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-152066\" src=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7388.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1279\" height=\"853\" class=\"size-full wp-image-152066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7388.jpeg 1279w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7388-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7388-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7388-610x407.jpeg 610w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7388-1080x720.jpeg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1279px) 100vw, 1279px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-152066\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Itay Segev &#8211; Photo Credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div><br \/>\nSegev isn\u2019t one to fear competition. That is something that showed not only in his comments about Sorkin and Zalmanson, but also in his decision to move from Ironi Ness Ziona a club where he had a big role and plenty of guaranteed minutes to Hapoel Tel Aviv, where he\u2019ll be competing with Bruno Caboclo, Johnathan Motley, Dan Oturu, and Tai Odiase.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wanted to get back to competing at the highest level. It\u2019s something that burned in me a bit ever since I left Hapoel Jerusalem. Not that there wasn\u2019t competition in Ness Ziona, but at the end of the day, I want to compete for a championship and of course, now playing under Reds coach Dimitrios Itoudis is a dream come true. I watched him since I was young and saw his style of basketball. I saw that Kyle Hines played under him and he was a role model for me. So the combination of all that for me going to Hapoel was a no-brainer. I think Hapoel Tel Aviv is the most ambitious project ever created here and to be part of that, wow. I just want the season to start already.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As for life after basketball, Segev has put in plenty of time thinking about what he will do but will it be in the basketball realm or outside of it is an open question as he has been working on a master\u2019s degree in business administration.<br \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_152104\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-152104\" src=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7409.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" class=\"size-full wp-image-152104\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7409.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7409-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7409-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7409-610x407.jpeg 610w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7409-1080x720.jpeg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-152104\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Itay Segev &#8211; Photo Credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n\u201cI think about it a lot. Will I stay in basketball? I\u2019m not really sure. Right now, I\u2019m kind of interested in doing something with kids through basketball. I\u2019ve got a thousand and one ideas, but for now I\u2019m really enjoying playing. As for the degree, in basketball our working hours aren\u2019t super long. You\u2019re in the gym around 5-6 hours a day. So you\u2019ve got a lot of recovery time, time where you\u2019re not going to go out and do much else. Studying started for me as a kind of escape, back when I was in France during the COVID season. I felt it gave me a different kind of kick in life, a little bubble to escape the daily stress. So, if you want to you can make time for it and I think it gives me a safety net for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of Segev\u2019s biggest tests at the upcoming Eurobasket will be attempting to stop Los Angeles Lakers and Slovenia superstar Luka Doncic on the pick and roll, \u201cNot many have succeeded. But I\u2019ll look him in the eye and try to get into his head. I want him thinking about me when they go to the pick &#038; roll.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While Segev will be playing for his eighth team in Israel, he looked at how he has been viewed by others, \u201cI think for many years, people kind of enjoyed underestimating me. But one of the hobbies I developed over the years is proving the haters wrong. I took that to a super positive place because in reality I\u2019m in the entertainment business. If people want to mock me and I give them a break from their daily troubles, whether they love me or hate me then I\u2019m totally fine with that. I\u2019m so confident in what I know as to what I can do and part of the fun for me is also responding to haters on the court.\u201d<br \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_152072\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-152072\" src=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7391.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" class=\"size-full wp-image-152072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7391.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7391-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7391-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7391-610x407.jpeg 610w, https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_7391-1080x720.jpeg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-152072\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Itay Segev &#8211; Photo Credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Israeli basketball, there&#8217;s a fairly clear milestone at age 30 \u2014 a point where you&#8217;re suddenly no longer a \u201cpromising youngster\u201d but an \u201cexperienced veteran.\u201d This past July, Itay Segev also crossed that point and now, officially, he\u2019s no longer a kid. Still, the upcoming European Championship, Eurobasket 2025 will be his first appearance [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":152113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[29,1161],"class_list":["post-152400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-holy-land-hoops","tag-israel","tag-itay-segev","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Proving the haters wrong: Itay Segev readies for first Eurobasket and a chance to stop Luka Doncic - Sports Rabbi<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/en\/proving-the-haters-wrong-itay-segev-readies-for-first-eurobasket-and-a-chance-to-stop-luka-doncic\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Proving the haters wrong: Itay Segev readies for first Eurobasket and a chance to stop Luka Doncic - Sports Rabbi\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In Israeli basketball, there&#8217;s a fairly clear milestone at age 30 \u2014 a point where you&#8217;re suddenly no longer a \u201cpromising youngster\u201d but an \u201cexperienced veteran.\u201d This past July, Itay Segev also crossed that point and now, officially, he\u2019s no longer a kid. 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