Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv keeps its icon, who will become the longest-serving captain in team history: “It has been my home for many years” Shimon Mizrahi: “Another pillar in our continuity strategy”. Oded Kattash: “John represents everything we believe in”
The high-energy guard, a player who is always committed, works tirelessly on defense, and constantly serves as a role model, will become the player with the most years as Maccabi’s captain. DiBartolomeo was appointed to the role in January 2018 and is now surpassing the record of Doron Jamchy, who served for 8 years. The club’s recent championship victory marks his seventh in the Blue and Yellow.
Club Chairman Shimon Mizrahi stated after the contract signing: “Signing John DiBartolomeo is another pillar in our continuity strategy of signing players to long-term deals, all the more so since he is the team’s captain. When he completes the next two years, it will mark 11 years of him playing in our club’s uniform, which fills us with great pride.”
“John has been an integral part of Maccabi Tel Aviv for years, representing everything we believe in, and I am happy and congratulate him on continuing with us,” said Head Coach Oded Kattash. “John is synonymous with professionalism, commitment, leadership, and giving one hundred percent in every practice and every game. He is a central figure in the locker room, a role model, and highly loved by everyone. Continuity is an important part of Maccabi’s identity, and John is one of the players who symbolizes it best.”
“Maccabi has been my home for many years, and I’m proud and grateful to continue this journey,” John DiBartolomeo emphasized after signing the new contract. “Wearing this jersey and serving as the team’s captain is a responsibility I never take for granted.”
“I want to thank the club, owners, coaches, my teammates, and especially our incredible fans for their trust and support,” the captain added. “I’m excited for what’s ahead, and I’ll keep giving everything I have every single day to help this club compete for every title.”
During the past domestic league regular season, “John D” played an average of about 20 minutes per night, contributing 7.9 points (41.5% from three), 2.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game alongside his defense and energy. In the playoffs, his numbers rose to 8.6 points (40% from beyond the arc, 92.9% from the free-throw line), 3.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 steals in 24.4 minutes per game. In the EuroLeague, he averaged over 14 minutes and scored 4 points per round.
John DiBartolomeo (1.83 m’, 35) was born in New York and raised in Connecticut. After high school, he played for Rochester in NCAA Division III, and began his professional career with a modest team from Mallorca in Spain’s third division. He immediately started to shine, helping his team earn a promotion, and continued to showcase strong performance the following season.
In the summer of 2015, John joined Maccabi Haifa, and the 2016/17 season with the Greens was his breakout year, where he made a significant leap and became one of the hottest players in the league. He finished the regular season averaging 11 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists with incredible shooting percentages – 60% from two, 40% from three, and 85% from the free-throw line.
In the playoffs, he displayed tremendous form, boosting his average to 19.2 points per game while shooting an astonishing 21-of-38 from three (55%!), and a perfect 28-of-28 from the free-throw line. He was named to the All-Israeli League First Team and won the League MVP title for the 2016/17 season.
In the summer of 2017, he was signed to a three-year deal by Maccabi Tel Aviv, and a few months later, he replaced Itay Segev as captain, earning the honor of lifting the championship plate after a three-season drought. The following season, he led the entire league in the plus-minus metric and free-throw percentage, scored 12 points per game, made the All-League First Team, and was named the Final Four MVP after scoring 15 points in the championship game.
In his nine seasons in the Maccabi uniform, John DiBartolomeo has become a significant and influential presence on and off the court, winning 7 League Championships, 3 Israeli State Cups and 4 Winner Cups.
Did You Know?
