101 Greats of European Basketball

Israeli basketball
history
While preparing this article, I
asked my friend Yarone Arbel, a
one-time columnist on Euroleague.net,
for some data about
Tal Brody. He sent me an e-mail
with some figures and details,
but what caught my attention was a sentence that
read: “Here, in Israel, when talking about basketball,
there is a before and after Tal Brody.” It’s impossible
to say more in fewer words about this historical
player, a great figure with so much meaning for Israeli
basketball. There is no doubt that Maccabi Tel Aviv
has showcased better players than Brody, but his
merit was being the first great signing of the club and
the key piece in an ambitious project of converting
Maccabi into a great Israeli ambassador.
Talbot “Tal” Brody was born in Trenton, New Jersey,
on August 20, 1943, into a Jewish family. His grandfather
and his father emigrated to the United States in
the 1920s after having lived in Palestine and Eastern
Europe. At 8 years old, Tal started playing basketball
at the Trenton Jewish Community Center, as well as at
the local Boys Club and his school. Even then, he knew
that he wanted to be either “a pro basketball player or
an FBI agent.”
Brody stood out in high school (15.3 points, 4.0
rebounds) and received scholarship offers to play
basketball at more than 40 colleges. He chose the
not-so-powerful University of Illinois, aware that he
would probably have more of a role there. With him
at the point – with his excellent court vision, great
assists and precise shot – Illinois won the famous Big
Ten Conference championship. Tal Brody was the top
scorer and the best passer. He was named to the prestigious
All-American team with players like Rick Barry,
Bill Bradley and Billy Cunningham, who years later
would re-write NBA history. In 1965, Brody finished his
degree in physical education and was selected 12th
overall in the NBA Draft by the Baltimore Bullets. Everything
pointed to a brilliant NBA career.
The trip that changed his life
Until he finished his studies, Brody had never traveled
outside the United States. In the summer of 1965,
which would be so important in his life, he was invited
to join an American selection of players to compete
at the quadrennial Maccabiah Games. His quality as a
player and his Jewish origins made him the perfect candidate
to be on the team. He was the best player on the
team that easily took the trophy. His great talent caught
everyone’s attention and before traveling back to the
States, Brody received an interesting offer – to stay in
Israel and play for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
It is said that Moshe Dayan, the legendary Israeli
general and minister of defense, who by then was the
minister of sports, personally tried to persuade Brody
with talk of his leadership in a project called “Great Maccabi.”
Until then, the club had never advanced beyond
the first rounds of European competitions, but there
were plans to convert Maccabi into a powerful team
that would be “the pride of Israel.” Brody didn’t stay
that year, though, and headed back to the U.S. to take
some masters courses to complete his studies. But in
1966, instead of playing with the Atlanta Hawks, who
101 greats of european basketball
Tal Brody
B