“I Won’t Fly to Israel Every Time”: Satoranský Explains His Choice of Hapoel Tel Aviv

After six years in the NBA and two long stints at Barcelona, Tomáš Satoranský is opening a new chapter at Hapoel Tel Aviv. In an extensive interview in the Czech Republic, the point guard spoke about the decision to join the Reds, the expected life in Sofia, the flights to Israel, and the need to reduce the load after a long period in which he suffered from back pain.

Satoranský confirmed that Hapoel will start the season based in the Bulgarian capital. "There is still little information, but we will start in Sofia," he said. Regarding the Israeli league games, he explained: "Every weekend we fly to Israel for league games, both for home and away games, but there can only be five foreign players in the squad, so there will probably be a rotation between us."

The point guard added that the possibility of not participating in all league games was part of his considerations. "The possibility that on some weekends I could stay in Sofia and not play, of course, appealed to me. I wanted something less demanding," he admitted.

Satoranský also spoke openly about the role expected of him on the team. "That will definitely be my role. I am not the main point guard, there is Vasilije Micić there. I think I will be the second or third point guard, and that is something I was looking for within the framework of the EuroLeague," he said.

According to him, in Barcelona they also promised him in the past that he would play less in the local league, but the reality was different. "In Barcelona, they also told me that I wouldn't play so much in the league, but since we didn't sign any additional players, that didn't happen."

The Czech clarified that staying in the EuroLeague was his main goal. "I am happy that I stayed in the EuroLeague, that was the main motivation. Although for the first time I dealt with health problems, in the EuroLeague I had one of the best seasons in recent years. I proved to myself that at my age I still have something to give to the team, in defense and in managing the game."

Satoranský said that for the last year and a half he has been suffering from lower back pain. "It's not a herniated disc, but pain in the facet joints. I think the only logical explanation is overload, not only from the last few years but from my entire career. At some point, the back locked up, and it was very difficult to return to the rhythm of games."

Regarding the last period in Barcelona, he said: "I crossed the line. After every EuroLeague game, the body was completely destroyed, and two or three days later we were already playing in the Spanish league. I played a lot there too. It probably didn't suit the problem I had."

The point guard admitted that the move to Hapoel marks a professional and mental change for him. "I think that with this move, a period begins where everything no longer rests on me. This is something I am looking for intentionally, even though subconsciously it will be difficult for me to deal with it."

He added: "I've been through enough. It's not just the back, then everything starts to collapse and a domino effect is created. I don't want to experience that anymore. I think that in the end, the body will convince the mind."

Despite the desire to reduce loads, Satoranský emphasized that his ambitions remain high. "I still have the motivation to win, and I still enjoy playing in the EuroLeague. I don't want to play just to play somewhere. I sacrificed so much for basketball to stay at the high levels."

On Hapoel Tel Aviv and Ofer Yanai's project: "I am happy that I am in a very ambitious project. It will be a bit strange for me to enter it after Barcelona. Now we have an owner with a vision at Hapoel, and we definitely want to win the EuroLeague."