Tamir Blatt (Hebrew: תמיר בלאט; born May 4, 1997) is an Israeli professional basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroLeague. He is the son of former basketball player and coach David Blatt. In the 2020-2021 season he led the Israel Basketball Premier League in assists per game.

Tamir Blatt
תמיר בלאט
Blatt with ALBA Berlin in October 2021
No. 45 – Maccabi Tel Aviv
PositionPoint guard
LeagueLigat HaAl
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1997-05-04) May 4, 1997 (age 27)
Netanya, Israel
Listed height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Listed weight82 kg (181 lb)
Career information
NBA draft2019: undrafted
Playing career2014–present
Career history
2014–2017Hapoel Tel Aviv
2014–2015A.S. Ramat HaSharon
2017–2018Hapoel Holon
2018–2021Hapoel Jerusalem
2021–2023Alba Berlin
2023–presentMaccabi Tel Aviv
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  Israel
Men's Basketball
FIBA Europe Under-20
Silver medal – second place 2017 Greece National Team

Early life

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Blatt was born in Netanya, Israel. He is the son of former basketball player and coach David Blatt. He played for Hapoel Lev Hasharon youth team, where led his team to win the state cup in 2021, alongside his teammate Roi Huber.[1] In July 2021, Blatt joined the Wingate Institute youth academy.[2]

Professional career

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Hapoel Tel Aviv (2014–2017)

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On August 27, 2014, Blatt started his professional career with Hapoel Tel Aviv, signing a four-year deal.[3] In his first season with Hapoel, Blatt was loaned to A.S. Ramat HaSharon of the Israeli National League, where he averaged 9.7 points, 4.1 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.

In his third season with Hapoel, Blatt made a breakthrough season averaging 7.4 points, 5.4 assists (3rd in the league), and 2.2 rebounds per game, earning a spot in Hapoel's starting lineup.[4] On April 18, 2017, Blatt participated in the 2017 Israeli League All-Star Game.

Hapoel Holon (2017–2018)

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On July 13, 2017, Blatt signed a two-year contract with Hapoel Holon.[5] On November 12, 2017, Blatt recorded a career-high 22 points, shooting 6-of-10 from three-point range, along with five rebounds and five assists in a 104–74 blowout win over Maccabi Rishon LeZion.[6] On December 5, 2017, Blatt recorded a double-double with a career-high 13 assists and 12 points in a 94–90 win over EWE Baskets Oldenburg. He was subsequently made the Champions League Team of the Week.[7]

Blatt helped Holon to win the 2018 Israeli State Cup, as well as reaching the 2018 Israeli League Final. In 54 games played during the 2017–18 season (played in the Israeli League and the Champions League), he averaged 6.4 points and 4.6 assists per game (7th in the Israeli Basketball Premier League in assists per game).[8]

Hapoel Jerusalem (2018–2021)

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On July 4, 2018, Blatt signed a two-year deal with Hapoel Jerusalem, joining his former head coach Oded Kattash.[9] On December 26, 2018, Blatt recorded a season-high 21 points, shooting 6-of-13 from the field in a 94–74 win over his former team Hapoel Holon.[10] In 2018-19 he was 5th in the Israel Basketball Premier League in assists per game (5.3).[11] On May 4, 2019, Blatt was named the Champions League Best Young Player.[12]

In 2019-20 he was again 5th in the Israel Basketball Premier League in assists per game (5.9).[13]

In 2020-21 he led the Israel Basketball Premier League in assists per game (7.9).[14]

Alba Berlin (2021–2023)

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On July 8, 2021, he signed with Alba Berlin of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).[15] He led the BBL in assists-per-48 minutes, with 13.1 (while only playing 18.3 minutes per game in 40 games), and shot .852 from the free throw line.[16] On July 11, 2023, Blatt parted ways with the German club.

Maccabi Tel Aviv (2023–present)

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On July 17, 2023, Blatt signed a two-year deal with Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv.

In October 2024, Blatt was named Euroleague opening Round MVP. He had a double-double for 21 points and 12 assists.[17]

In October 2024, Blatt sustained a hamstring injury in a game and was expected to miss about three weeks of play.[18]

National team career

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Blatt with the Israeli U-20 team in March 2017

Israeli junior national team

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Blatt was a member of the U-16, U-18 and U-20 Israel national teams.

In July 2015, Blatt helped the Israeli under-18 national team to reach the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship Division B Final, where they eventually lost to Sweden and earned a silver medal. Blatt averaged 9.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

On September 18, 2015, Blatt participated in the FIBA European U-18 All-Star Game in France, recording six points and six assists.[19][20]

In July 2017, Blatt led the Israeli under-20 national team to reach the 2017 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship Final, where they eventually lost to Greece. Blatt set FIBA U20 all-time record in assists per game with 10.1 and also averaged 16 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Blatt earned a spot in the All-Tournament Team.[21][22]

Israeli senior national team

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Blatt is a member of the Israel national basketball team. On November 24, 2017, he made his first appearance for the senior team at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification match against Estonia, recording nine points and three assists off the bench.[23]

Career statistics

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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

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2021–22 Alba Berlin 30 3 15.0 .381 .360 1.000 1.3 3.5 .3 5.0 6.3
2022–23 30 14 19.9 .341 .357 .895 1.2 4.6 .3 7.8 7.2
2023–24 Maccabi Tel Aviv 38 0 18.9 .414 .393 .875 1.5 4.8 .4 7.0 7.8
Career 98 17 18.0 .379 .372 .913 1.3 4.3 .4 6.7 7.1

Basketball Champions League

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Hapoel Holon 14 6 27.1 .378 .321 .850 1.4 5.3 1.1 6.4
2018–19 Hapoel Jerusalem 17 16 24.8 .400 .408 .875 2.6 7.0 1.1 10.2
2019–20 16 10 21.7 .324 .284 .857 1.9 4.6 .6 .1 6.6
2020–21 6 5 27.3 .378 .385 .571 1.5 6.5 .5 .2 8.8
Career 53 37 24.7 .371 .349 .831 2.0 5.8 .9 .0 7.9

Domestic leagues

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Year Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2014–15   Ramat HaSharon Liga Leumit 26 25.8 .372 .383 .703 2.3 4.1 .7 9.9
2014–15   Hapoel Tel Aviv Ligat HaAl 12 5.0 .154 .125 .000 .6 .8 .2 0.4
2015–16   Hapoel Tel Aviv Ligat HaAl 38 13.5 .390 .413 .769 1.1 1.8 .5 4.5
2016–17   Hapoel Tel Aviv Ligat HaAl 33 25.5 .362 .423 .800 2.2 5.4 .9 .0 7.4
2017–18   Hapoel Holon Ligat HaAl 39 22.1 .388 .397 .756 1.7 4.4 .8 6.2
2018–19   Hapoel Jerusalem Ligat HaAl 36 25.0 .391 .393 .667 1.6 5.3 .8 9.9
2019–20   Hapoel Jerusalem Ligat HaAl 27 23.5 .428 .429 .741 1.9 5.8 .7 9.9
2020–21   Hapoel Jerusalem Ligat HaAl 31 28.5 .384 .380 .813 2.6 7.9 .9 .0 12.2
2020–21   Hapoel Jerusalem BIBL 4 24.5 .357 .286 1.000 1.5 4.7 .7 7.7
2021–22   Alba Berlin BBL 40 18.3 .357 .370 .852 1.9 5.0 .4 7.4
2022–23   Alba Berlin BBL 23 17.5 .301 .327 .774 1.6 5.0 .5 6.2
2023–24   Maccabi Tel Aviv Ligat HaAl 32 21.7 .357 .326 .833 2.1 6.3 .6 8.5

Personal life

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Blatt's father, David, is a former professional basketball player and head coach. His cousin, Golan Gutt, is a current professional basketball player for Ironi Nes Ziona.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "תמיר בלאט הוביל את לב השרון לזכיה בגביע". Sport5.co.il (in Hebrew). April 2, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  2. ^ "תמיר בלאט במחזור האקדמיה החדש בווינגייט". one.co.il (in Hebrew). July 27, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  3. ^ "הפועל תל אביב: תמיר בלאט חתם לארבע שנים". walla.co.il (in Hebrew). August 27, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  4. ^ "Israeli BSL Stats - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.
  5. ^ "Tamir Blatt signs two-year deal with Hapoel Holon". Sportando.basketball. July 13, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  6. ^ "Winner League, Game 6: UNET Holon Vs M. Rishon - Box Score". basket.co.il. November 12, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  7. ^ "Walden, Blatt, Weems, Atkins and Kikanovic make Team of the Week". championsleague.basketball. December 7, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  8. ^ "Israeli BSL Stats - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.
  9. ^ "Tamir Blatt moves to Hapoel Jerusalem". Sportando.basketball. July 4, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  10. ^ "Winner League, Game 11: Hapoel J-M Vs UNET Holon". basket.co.il. December 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  11. ^ "Israeli BSL Stats - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.
  12. ^ "Star Lineup revealed, Blatt Best Young Player". ChampionsLeague.basketball. May 4, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  13. ^ "Israeli BSL Stats - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.
  14. ^ "Israel basketball stats, results, box score, scout report and video online | Scouting4U". old.scouting4u.com.
  15. ^ "Tamir Blatt officially returns to Alba Berlin". Sportando. July 8, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  16. ^ "German BBL Stats - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.
  17. ^ "Maccabi Tel Aviv's Tamir Blatt named EuroLeague opening Round MVP". Eurohoops. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Maccabi Tel Aviv's Tamir Blatt out for three weeks". Eurohoops. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  19. ^ "FIBA European U18 All-Star Game Players Announced". Sportando.com. September 11, 2015. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  20. ^ "Son of Cavs' Blatt shows skills of his own". amicohoops.net. September 18, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  21. ^ "Tamir Blatt making his mark". fiba.basketball. July 20, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  22. ^ "Charalampopoulos crowned MVP after leading Greece to title". fiba.basketball. July 23, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  23. ^ "Israel v Estonia boxscore - FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers". fiba.basketball. November 24, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  24. ^ "קשר משפחתי: הבנים של בלאט ודני גוט במכביה". ynet.co.il (in Hebrew). June 25, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
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