By Niki Bakouli/ bakouli@eurohoops.net
Among the European players who came to Las Vegas for the summer league was one of the most experienced (instead he’s only 26 years old) in Euroleague due to his career in Maccabi for five years and in Caja Laboral for one. Lior Eliyahu was drafted in second round in 2006’s draft by Orlando Magic. His rights were traded some days ago to Minnesota Timberwolves and he played his first games with his new team.
The challenge to play in NBA is huge but the same moment the Israeli forward tells to Eurohoops.net that “I have contract for two years more with Maccabi but every summer I have NBA out. Summer league games are different than Europe. Sometimes you must do something for yourself. I came here because I think it can help my career”.
Was NBA his dream since his childhood? “Every basketball player dreams to play in NBA. I drafted some years ago and there was a lot of talking about that but now I want to stop talk and play” says and after that concludes that “it’s very good that the teams have so many European players and I think it’s a good sign for me”.
The presence of Ricky Rubio and Nikola Pekovic makes things easier for Lior? “It’s not up to me, but if I need to decide, I think Minnesota is a great option for me, but I must wait. I have played a lot of times against them and it would be pleasure to play with them but on the other side it’s not so easy to leave my love, my home, my team, Maccabi Tel Aviv”.