By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv has signed 25 year old forward Sylven Landesberg to a new, three-year contract, with an option for a 4th year. The contract includes an NBA out, an option that allows the player to void his contract if he leaves to play for a team in the NBA.
Danny Federman, co-General Manager of the Club, had this to say about the player and the contract: “After five seasons in Israel, three of which were with Maccabi Tel Aviv, and after finishing his military service in the IDF, Sylven is part of the foundation of Maccabi, and a player who we see developing into a significant component of the team. The length of the contract reflects our desire to preserve continuity on the roster.”
Landesberg came to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the summer of 2012 after playing a starring role with Maccabi Haifa for two years and finishing the 2011-2012 season as the leading scorer in the Israeli League. This season, his performance improved considerably and he posted his best numbers yet with Maccabi:
In the Euroleague this season, Landesberg contributed 8.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in an average of 18 minutes of playing time per game. His best game of the season came on the road in the victory against French team Limoges, when he earned a Euroleague career-high 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 28 index points. In the game against Zalgiris in Lithuania he scored 20 points, and at home against Real Madrid Landesberg scored 16 points. Landesberg scored in double figures in 9 of the 19 Euroleague games in which he participated this season.
Sylven also posted excellent numbers in the Israeli Winner Sal League, with an average of 12.9 points – second in Maccabi after veteran Devin Smith, and third among the Israeli players in the League – and 5.1 rebounds in 25 minutes per game. Landesberg had a number of excellent games in the Israeli League this season, including 31 points on the road against his former team, Maccabi Haifa, 31 points at home against Nes Ziona (including 6 three pointers), and 29 points (7 threes) in an away game against Hapoel Holon.