At 26, an Israeli international loses his life in a road accident

Israeli basketball is in mourning. Raz Adam, a point guard playing in the first division for Hapoel Galil Elyon, lost his life on Wednesday evening in a road accident in northern Israel. The player from Netanya was 26 years old. The driver of the other vehicle involved, a 39-year-old man, was slightly injured and taken to a hospital.

According to information shared by numerous media outlets, Raz Adam was on his way to a team dinner when the tragedy occurred. Most of the squad had already gathered at the time of the announcement, leaving the entire group in shock.

A promising career brutally cut short

Trained at Elitzur Netanya, his hometown, Raz Adam had quickly climbed the ranks of Israeli basketball. He had gone on to play for Hapoel Tel Aviv, Ironi Ness Ziona, and Ironi Kiryat Ata, accumulating 157 appearances in the national league over seven seasons. This season, he had established himself as a key player for Hapoel Galil Elyon, averaging 11.1 points, 3.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game.

On the international stage, he was part of the golden under-20 generation, winning two consecutive European Championship titles in 2018 and 2019, alongside future NBA star Deni Avdija. He had also been called up to the senior national team during EuroBasket qualifying against Slovenia in February 2024, and had recently been included in the extended squad for World Championship qualifiers against Cyprus.

The grief is immense in the Israeli sports world. Hapoel Galil Elyon released a heartfelt official statement:

« The club is in shock and grief. Raz was an integral part of the Hapoel Galil Elyon family — a beloved man, an exemplary teammate, a true professional, and a great soul off the court. This terrible news has left us all stunned and has left an immense pain throughout the club, among the players, the staff, and the supporters. »

Hapoel Tel Aviv, the player’s former club, also said they were « devastated and shocked » by the passing of their former player, adding: « Our hearts go out to his family. May his memory be a blessing. »

Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar paid tribute to the player: « I am overwhelmed with grief at the untimely death of Raz Adam, captain of Hapoel Galil Elyon, killed in this tragic road accident in the north of the country. Raz was a promising young athlete, driven by an immense love for the game and great generosity. » Deni Avdija, his partner in both U20 European titles, also spoke out on Instagram: « Two gold medals together. Words fail me. An exceptional player and an extraordinary human being. May his memory be a blessing. »