Five Things You Didn't Know About Maccabi Tel Aviv Center Daniel Theis
From being ejected from a football stadium as a teenager to co-owning an American club, five fascinating facts highlight the journey of Maccabi Tel Aviv center Daniel Theis.
Daniel Theis has built an impressive basketball career, winning world and European championships with the German national team, spending eight seasons in the NBA, and joining Maccabi Tel Aviv last August after leaving ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne.
Ahead of tonight's crucial EuroLeague derby, five fascinating facts shed light on the journey of Maccabi Tel Aviv's veteran center, ranging from his passion for football to a childhood incident that nearly altered his path.
Ejected from Stadium as a Teenage Fan
Long before starring on the basketball court, Theis was a devoted fan of VfL Wolfsburg. At age 14, during a match against Bayer Leverkusen, he threw paper balls at the opposing substitutes' bench, leading stadium security to escort him out of the stadium.
"I was 14 and threw paper at the substitute players. It wasn't fair, the whole stand threw them and only I was escorted out," Theis recalled in an interview. In January 2025, the story came full circle when VfL Wolfsburg named Theis as its international brand ambassador to help expand the club's global presence.
Co-Owner of a USL Football Club
Theis's love for football extends beyond fandom. In March 2023, he joined the ownership group of Rhode Island FC, a club competing in the American USL Championship. He initially sought to purchase shares in VfL Wolfsburg, but Germany's strict 50+1 ownership rule prevented private investors from holding a majority stake.
"Volkswagen wants to remain the sole shareholder and there is the 50+1 rule, so I chose Rhode Island which is close to Boston. I definitely see myself doing things there in the future," Theis explained regarding his venture into football club management.
Father's Deal Shaped His Basketball Career
Growing up in Salzgitter, Germany, Theis played as a football striker until age 15, scoring dozens of goals. However, his family insisted that basketball suited him better. His father struck a deal: switch to basketball, and receive any sports equipment he desired.
With encouragement from his older brother Frank, a professional basketball player, Theis joined a basketball team in nearby Braunschweig at age 16. There, he began a lifelong friendship and partnership with Dennis Schroder, validating his father's persistence.
Nearly Joined Maccabi a Decade Ago
Although Theis arrived in Tel Aviv last August, he was on the verge of signing with Maccabi Tel Aviv back in the summer of 2016 while playing for Brose Bamberg. Ultimately, the coaching staff opted for German center Maik Zirbes instead.
Zirbes's stint in Tel Aviv proved unsuccessful, while Theis remained in Bamberg, won a third consecutive league title, and subsequently launched a successful eight-season NBA career before returning to Maccabi years later.
Tattoos Commemorating Every Career Milestone
Theis honors his career milestones through tattoos, featuring the logos of every NBA team he played for on his right leg, alongside the Brose Bamberg crest. His right arm displays the number 15 inside a star, commemorating his first championship in 2015.
He also immortalized his titles with the German national team and dedicates a large tree of life tattoo to his wife Lena and their children, Leile and Milo. Looking ahead, Theis playfully noted: "I have room for a EuroLeague trophy tattoo with Maccabi."
