Last year, Israeli team Maccabi Ra'anana traveled to the United States for NBA preseason contests against the Clippers, Trail Blazers and Thunder. The squad flew back to the U.S. this year for another set of games, but players couldn't have possibly imagined what would happen when they left Israel.
Only days after Maccabi Ra'anana departed the country, Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israeli towns with a surprise strike, leaving more than 1,200 dead, according to an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson. Israel then formally declared war on Hamas, causing the Palestinian death toll to rise in recent days.
Before their first preseason game against the Nets, Maccabi Ra'anana coaches and players were adamant that they wanted to take the floor. As Maccabi Ra'anana head coach Yehu Orland said, the team is looking to provide hope for those back home.
Who are Maccabi Ra'anana?
Maccabi Ra'anana, which was founded in 1980, is a basketball club that currently plays in the Israeli National League. The team is based in Ra'anana, Israel, which is north of Tel Aviv.
The Israeli National League is a second-tier league that consists of 15 teams. It gives teams the opportunity to be promoted to the Israeli Premier League.
Maccabi Ra'anana keeps playing as Israel-Hamas war continues
The tragic events in Israel were particularly painful for Orland, who told reporters before Maccabi Ra'anana's loss to the Nets that one of his close friends had died while fighting in the war.
Eli Ginsberg had just retired after serving 23 years in the Israeli army, and he was planning a vacation with Orland's family, according to The Associated Press. But when the war began, Ginsberg quickly jumped back into action.
"I lost one of my best friends," Orland said. "For me, it's a personal tragedy, but for our country, it's everybody's tragedy."
While one player has returned home, the rest of the team plans to travel to Cleveland and Minnesota for the final two games of the preseason tour. Orland hopes that Maccabi Ra'anana can be a small source of joy during an extremely difficult period.
"I'm sitting here trying not to cry because my heart is broken, but we have to create for those young people, children, hope that Israel is strong," Orland said. "That's the reason I think everybody is here."
What has the NBA said about the Israel-Hamas war?
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association released the following statement on Oct. 8:
The NBA and NBPA mourn the horrific loss of life in Israel and condemn these acts of terrorism. We stand with the people of Israel and pray for peace for the entire region.
— NBA (@NBA) October 9, 2023
The Nets held a moment of silence before the preseason game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center condemn the terrorist attacks and mourn the senseless loss of life in Israel.
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 12, 2023
We stand together against terror and our thoughts are with all who have been impacted by these tragic events. pic.twitter.com/ybdSujW4NY
Maccabi Ra'anana preseason schedule
After falling to the Nets, Maccabi Ra'anana will face the Cavaliers and Timberwolves in back-to-back games on Monday and Tuesday.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET)/Result |
| Oct. 12 | at Nets | Nets 135, Maccabi Ra'anana 103 |
| Oct. 16 | at Cavaliers | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 17 | at Timberwolves | 8 p.m |
