Maccabi Tel Aviv will play for the first time in its history at the Madison Square Garden against the NY Knicks on October 11th
The New York Knickerbockers announced today that they will host Israeli champions Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m. Proceeds from the game will benefit Migdal Ohr, which for more than 34 years has been transforming the lives of impoverished and disadvantaged children in Israel.
“This game will provide us with the unique opportunity to play a quality opponent while benefiting a worthwhile cause,” Knicks President, Basketball Operations and Head Coach Isiah Thomas said. “Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv has long had a renowned international presence in the game of basketball and has demonstrated the ability to compete with teams in the NBA; we look forward to the match-up.”
Tal Brody, the former Maccabi superstar who is on the Maccabi Tel Aviv board, said his team had been cheered wildly in exhibition games in Toronto and Los Angeles, prompting Thomas to say, “That’s O.K., we’re used to getting booed here.”
The game will mark the first time the Knicks will face an international opponent at Madison Square Garden. Maccabi beat in the past 5 NBA teams, and is the only European team in the history to beat an NBA team on North American soil – 105-103 over the Raptors at Toronto in 2005.
Tickets for the exhibition go on sale to the general public June 13th at 9:00 a.m. and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, nyknicks.com and TicketMaster outlets.
