Scottie Wilbekin on living in Israel: 'I feel safer here than in the USA' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Johnattan F. Bilancieri via Twitter, ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix Credit Johnattan F. Bilancieri via Twitter, ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv were playing against FC Barcelona in the last round of the EuroLeague regular season when Scottie Wilbekin received the news about a terrorist attack near his home in the Dizengoff area in Tel Aviv.

Scottie Wilbekin

MIN:29.05PTS:15.42 (52.66%)REB:2.15As:4.27ST:1.61BL:0TO:2.09GM:33ProfileEuroLeague2021/2022

"It was in the middle of the game. I think it was the third or the fourth quarter, it's not what you want to hear at any time," Scottie remembered the moment during the interview with the Israeli Kan 11 channel. "I feel sorry for whoever was involved and hope that you don't know anybody who was involved."

"Somebody whispered to me that there was another attack, that it was in Dizengoff, so I asked Ami [the team's manager] to text my wife to make sure that she was ok," Wilbekin remembers. "It puts into perspective what really matters. We're playing a game, and people are fighting for their lives."

Although worrisome each time you hear it, Wilbekin has become accustomed to the hostile events.

"I just try to make sure I don't put myself into a situation that could potentially have something go wrong," he says.

Israel has been rocked by terrorist attacks throughout the last month. Four people were stabbed in the city of Be'er Sheva on March 22nd, then almost a week later, two police officers were shot to death, and four were left wounded in an attack.

On March 30th, five people were shot to death in the east region of Tel Aviv, and then the April 7th attack on Dizengoff Street took place.

Do such events make him at any point regret the decision to play and live in Tel Aviv? Scottie has a clear answer. "I think it's one of the safest countries, honestly," the player explains.

"There are threats, and for such a small nation, it's surrounded by threats, but as far as feeling safe, most of the time, I feel safer here than in America."

Wilbekin is happy in Israel.

"Everybody knows who I am. You know, it's great, it's all love," he says. "I just had Passover; I wore the yarmulke, did some of the reading, some of the singing. It's great, I love it, I love the life in Israel."

Maccabi made the EuroLeague playoffs for the first time in 7 years. Talking about the team's goals in the tournament, Wilbekin was honest.

"I think we can go all the way," the team leader admitted.

"Obviously, we have to play well in order to do that. We have to stay together as a team and keep going the way we've been going. If we do that, then we have a good chance," Scottie explains.

Maccabi lost the first game of the series against Real Madrid in WiZink Center. Although not successful, the players feel they had a real chance to grab an away win.

"It would be nice for Israel to bring home a championship," Wilbekin concludes.

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