Decline for increase: Play in Israel, upgrade in the NBA

Last night in the NBA contained quite a few stories. The Hunts’ “Big 3” provided another show, Luka Doncic got nervous, Washington continued to crash and Ambide took another step in the MVP race. But between stories, there was one that touched the hearts of the Israeli audience a little more than the rest – Joe Ingles. Utah and ex-Maccabi Tel Aviv’s scorer continued to make a name for himself in the club’s history, breaking John Stockton’s three-point record and reaching the top of the scenes.

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Joe Ingles
Maccabi Tel Aviv of the 13/14 season did win the Euroleague, but was not full of stars. Tyrese Rice was a mystery all season and exploded only towards the end, Devin Smith has always had gray touches, Ricky Hickman suffered ups and downs and the list goes on. But within that mix, there was one player who was an “anti-star” even more than the rest.Jo Ingles by name.

Ingles, who came from Barcelona, ​​built a name for himself as a complementary player and evidently he was “satisfied” with 6.4 points per game – which were his highest figure in his European career. A rather dubious record, it should be noted, but not one that prevented him from signing next season at the Utah Jazz. Last night, the former Maccabi Tel Aviv, who is completing a seventh season in Utah, broke the legend’s record, John Stockton, and became the player with the most threes in the club’s history. The Australian took 1011 fewer games than the center of the past to reach that number.

Joe Ingles continues to solidify his name in the Jazz history books.

Congratulations, Joe! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/tKX8MRP31v

– Jazz Nation (@JazzNationCP) January 30, 2021

His son Audrich
When he was only 20 years old – after winning two championships with Ljubljana, being the young Slovenian captain and considered one of the future players of European basketball – his son Audrich stepped into extra-large shoes. Ariel McDonald’s shoes at Maccabi Tel Aviv. Although Udrich won the doubles with the Yellows and reached the Adriatic final, he failed in the Euroleague while scoring only 6.3 points in the first part of the season and jumps to 13.2 in the second.

For Maccabi Tel Aviv, as is well known, that was not enough – and they sent him on loan the following season to Russian Autodor Saratov. For Greg Popovich and San Antonio, however, it was enough to select him in the 2004 draft in 28th place. Thus, Audrich began his career His glorious NBA that lasted 13 seasons and also passed in Sacramento, Milwaukee, Orlando, the Knicks, Memphis, Miami and Detroit.In the peak season Audrich scored 13.7 points per game for the Kings.

P.J. Tucker
Unlike the previous two, ex-Hapoel Holon arrived in Israel after the “affair” with the best league in the world had already begun. Tucker was drafted in the 2006 draft but failed to make a mark in his Toronto debut season and suddenly found himself rolling into the country. But starting from this stage, the legend story began that the Purples will not forget for a very long time.

Tucker, the Premier League was his playground, led Holon to a historic championship season – averaging 14.6 points and seven rebounds in the regular season, and 18 points alongside eight rebounds in the Maccabi Tel Aviv final game. If you were wondering, the troubles continued to fall on Tucker, who tore his knee ligaments the following season in the Ukrainian Donetsk uniform – but he did not give up for a moment, impressed in the summer league and made his way back to the NBA. Next season, Tucker will close a decade in the world’s best league. With Houston and at its peak he recorded 9.4 points per game.

Richie Dumas
He began his career as a star at Oklahoma State College and was even drafted in 1991, but a drug affair led to his suspension and paved the way for Hapoel Holon during the Gulf War. During the war, Dumas was in no hurry to leave the country and thus entered the hearts of the purple fans. The 20.8 points he scored and the 8 rebounds he picked promised Thomas another chance in Phoenix the following season, with which he reached the NBA Finals and lost to Michael Jordan and the Bulls, but after another two years his name was again associated with drug use and he began to roam Europe.

Roger Mason
Like Tucker, the former Hapoel Jerusalem was on the safe path to disappearing from the map of American basketball. He was selected in the 2002 draft in 30th place by the declining Chicago Bulls – but completed 20 games in two years, was transferred to the Toronto Raptors, injured and released. After giving up and choosing to start a European career at Olympiacos, Mason found himself landing at Hapoel Jerusalem. He helped the team qualify for the UEFA semifinals, but it preferred to sign Timmy Bowers, then a rising force in Israeli basketball, and Mason left out.

The following season, Mason, like many Americans who are losing height, began in Japan. But two weeks later, the Washington Wizards picked up the gauntlet and returned it to the best league in the world. In the capital Mason recorded two not bad years that made Greg Popovich stare in his direction, and when he did move to San Antonio – Mason exploded and recorded an NBA record season of 11.8 points at 42% for three. Mason also managed to move to the Knicks, return to Washington, and end his career in New Orleans and Miami. Shortly before retiring, he was appointed vice president of the NBA, until one arrived – LeBron James – and replaced him.

More notable players: Avery Bradley, Will Bynum, Frank Brykowski, Donald Royale and Alan Anderson.