Lior Eliyahu
Eliyahu playing for Israel in 2015
Personal information
Born (1985-09-09) 9 September 1985 (age 38)
Ramat-Gan, Israel
NationalityIsraeli
Listed height2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
Listed weight102 kg (225 lb)
Career information
NBA draft2006: 2nd round, 44th overall pick
Selected by the Orlando Magic
Playing career2003–2020
PositionPower forward
Number8
Career history
2003–2006Hapoel Galil Elyon
2006–2009Maccabi Tel Aviv
2009–2010Caja Laboral
2010–2013Maccabi Tel Aviv
2013–2019Hapoel Jerusalem
2019–2020Maccabi Ashdod
Career highlights and awards

EuroLeague records since the 2000–01 season

  • Most 2-point field goals made in a game without a miss
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com

Lior Eliyahu (Hebrew: לִיאוֹר אֱלִיָּהוּ; born 9 September 1985) is an Israeli former professional basketball player. He is 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) in height and he weighs 105 kg (225 pounds). He plays at the power forward position. He was named the 2012 and 2015 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP.

Early life

Eliyahu is Jewish,[1] and was born in Ramat-Gan, Israel.

Professional career

Eliyahu grew up in the youth system of Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan, but moved to Galil for the 2004–05 season, in order to further his career. The move paid off when, under the guidance of Oded Katash, Eliyahu made great strides in improving his game. After the 2005–06 season, Eliyahu entered the 2006 NBA draft, a move criticized by Hanoch Mintz, Eliyahu's coach during his time in Ramat Gan.

In pre-draft camps in Europe, Eliyahu impressed along with fellow Israeli Yotam Halperin and when the camp was finished in Treviso, Italy, both had dramatically climbed the mock draft charts. He also impressed during matches between Maccabi Tel Aviv and NBA teams. During the EuroLeague 2006–07 season, Eliyahu averaged 10.8 points per game.

In December 2008, Eliyahu became the first Israeli to be named the EuroLeague MVP of the Month during the season. He recorded a double double in all three games he played during December. Overall for the 2008–09 EuroLeague season, Eliyahu averaged 14.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. In 2009, Eliyahu signed a 4-year contract worth €6 million euros net income with the Spanish League club Caja Laboral[2] and he won the Spanish national championship with his new team in 2010, scoring 18 points in the deciding game against then EuroLeague champions Barcelona.[3]

In September 2010, he returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv, signing a five-year contract.[4] He was named the 2012 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP.[5]

In November 2013, he signed a three-year deal with Hapoel Jerusalem.[6] In 2015, helped the club win its first-ever Israeli championship.[7] He was named the 2015 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP.[8]

In 2017, Eliyahu took another championship with Hapoel Jerusalem.[9] In January 2016, signed a three-year extension to his contract with Hapoel Jerusalem.[10]

On 10 May 2018, Eliyahu recorded a career-high 15 assists, along with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals in a 92–73 win over Hapoel Eilat. He was subsequently named Israeli League Round 30 MVP.[11]

On 23 August 2018, Eliyahu was named Hapoel Jerusalem's new team captain, replacing Yotam Halperin.[12]

On 26 July 2019, Eliyahu signed with Maccabi Ashdod for the 2019–20 season, joining his former head coach Brad Greenberg.[13] On 21 October 2019, Eliyahu recorded a season-high 22 points, shooting 10-of-15 from the field, along with seven rebounds and seven assists, leading Ashdod to an 83–76 win over Hapoel Tel Aviv.[14] He was subsequently named Israeli League Round 3 MVP.[15]

NBA draft rights

On 28 June 2006, he made national headlines in Israel by being selected by the Orlando Magic with the 44th pick of the 2006 NBA draft. He was later traded to the Houston Rockets for cash considerations.

On 26 June 2012, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded the 18th overall pick of the 2012 NBA draft, to the Houston Rockets, in exchange for Chase Budinger and the draft rights to Eliyahu.[16]

On 9 July 2019, his draft rights were traded to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier.[17]

Israel national team

Eliyahu was a member of the senior Israel national team at the 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 EuroBasket tournaments.

On 8 May 2018, Eliyahu announced his decision to retire from the Israel national team.[18]

Awards and accomplishments

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

EuroLeague

* Denotes seasons in which Eliyahu won a Championship
Bold Denotes career highs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2006–07 Maccabi Tel Aviv 22 15 21.2 .575 .000 .653 5.3 1.3 .9 .5 10.8 13.1
2007–08 18 5 10.1 .549 .000 .591 1.9 1.1 .4 .1 3.8 5.1
2008–09 16 9 26.5 .624 .000 .667 6.6 2.4 .6 .3 14.0 17.6
2009–10 Caja Laboral 15 4 18.4 .632 .000 .400 3.4 1.3 .7 .3 8.4 11.1
2010–11 Maccabi Tel Aviv 21 21 20.3 .601 .200 .739 3.8 1.0 .8 .5 10.9 11.8
2011–12 20 15 18.2 .566 1.000 .542 3.0 1.0 .3 .1 8.5 8.1
2012–13 23 10 17.2 .483 .000 .800 3.1 2.1 .7 .2 7.3 8.2
Career 135 79 18.9 .568 .125 .650 4.0 1.3 .6 .3 9.1 10.6

EuroCup

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2013–14 Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. 15 14 25.2 .500 .000 .267 4.7 2.5 .9 .5 9.6 9.8
2014–15 Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. 10 10 25.0 .515 .000 .533 3.2 2.1 1 .4 10.8 9.2
2015–16 Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. 13 12 21.9 .485 .000 .556 4.9 2.8 .8 .2 10.5 10.4
2016–17 Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. 19 6 15.5 .513 .000 .545 3.5 1.9 .6 .2 6.9 7.8
Career 57 42 21.7 .502 0.000 .486 4.1 2.3 .8 .3 9.1 9.3

Domestic leagues

Season Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2003-04 Galil-Elyon Israel 22 13.5 .549 .500 .684 3.1 .6 .5 .3 5.0
2004-05 21 27.8 0.591 0.389 0.670 5.2 1.7 1.9 0.3 13.9
2005-06 29 26.6 0.579 0.294 0.671 5.9 3.1 1.3 0.7 15.9
2006-07* Maccabi T-A 26 16.9 0.59 0.286 .658 4.2 2.2 1.0 0.5 9.4
2007–08 22 14.6 .595 .25 .656 3.7 2.1 0.7 0.2 7.2
2008-09* 22 22.6 .654 .143 .633 4.7 3.1 1.0 0.4 13.2
2009-10* Caja Laboral Liga ACB 28 13.5 .508 0 .714 1.7 1.0 0.5 0.4 5.3
2010-11* Maccabi T-A Israel 26 22.8 .637 .333 .674 5.0 2.9 1.0 .7 13.6
2011-12* 20 24.8 .61 0 .595 5.1 3.3 1.2 .3 13.8
2012–13 25 23.2 .567 .5 .475 4.2 3 1.2 .6 11
2013–14 Jerusalem 20 31.3 .569 0 .482 5.7 3.4 1.6 0.7 13.4
2014-15* 33 27.3 .547 1.0 .473 6.5 4 1.5 .7 13.2
2015–16 29 25.5 .511 0 .391 6.2 4.3 0.8 .7 11.7
2016-17* 32 27.1 .492 0 .326 5.6 3.4 1.1 .7 9.8
Career 355 22.67 .563 .263 .578 4.77 2.72 1.09 0.51 11.17

See also

References

  1. ^ "Israeli Sports". Jewish Sports Review. 8 (87): 20. September–October 2011.
  2. ^ "Eliyahu signs with TAU" (in Hebrew). Sports.walla.co.il. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  3. ^ "Caja Laboral win ACB Championship". Eitb.com. 16 June 2010. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  4. ^ Lior Eliyahu signed with Maccabi for 5 years Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine (in Hebrew)
  5. ^ "מנהלת ליגת העל בכדורסל | עונת 2011-12 | | מצטיינים".
  6. ^ "HAPOEL JERUSALEM lands Eliyahu on three-year deal". Eurocupbasketall.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  7. ^ http:"HAPOEL JERUSALEM first championship". sport5.co.il. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  8. ^ "מנהלת ליגת העל בכדורסל | עונת 2014–15 | | מצטיינים".
  9. ^ http:"HAPOEL JERUSALEM second championship". Eurohoops.net. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  10. ^ http:"Lior Eliyahu contract extension". ynet.co.il. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  11. ^ מצטיין המחזור ה-30: ליאור אליהו. basket.co.il (in Hebrew). 12 May 2018.
  12. ^ "שמנו דגש על האופי של השחקנים". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). 23 August 2018.
  13. ^ "ליאור אליהו חתם במכבי אשדוד". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  14. ^ "בוקר טוב אליהו: ניצחון ראשון לאשדוד". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). 21 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  15. ^ "מצטיין המחזור השלישי: ליאור אליהו". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). 22 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Wolves trade 18th pick to Houston for Chase Budinger, prospect". Star Tribune.
  17. ^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Acquire Shabazz Napier and Treveon Graham". NBA.com. 8 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Lior Eliyahu retires from Israeli national team". Sportando.com. 8 May 2018.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lior Eliyahu.
2006 NBA draft
Israeli Premier League Rising Star
Israeli Premier League Most Valuable Player Award
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