Lior Eliyahu facts for kids
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Eliyahu playing for Israel in 2015
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| No. 8 | |
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| Power forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 9 September 1985 Ramat-Gan, Israel |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Listed height | 2.06 m (6 ft 9.10 in) |
| Listed weight | 102 kg (225 lb) |
| Career information | |
| NBA Draft | 2006 / Round: 2 / Pick: 44th overall |
| Selected by the Orlando Magic | |
| Pro career | 2003–2020 |
| Career history | |
| 2003–2006 | Hapoel Galil Elyon |
| 2006–2009 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| 2009–2010 | Caja Laboral |
| 2010–2013 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| 2013–2019 | Hapoel Jerusalem |
| 2019–2020 | Maccabi Ashdod |
| Career highlights and awards | |
EuroLeague records since the 2000–01 season
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Lior Eliyahu (Hebrew: לִיאוֹר אֱלִיָּהוּ; born September 9, 1985) is a former professional basketball player from Israel. He is 2.06 meters (6 feet 9 inches) tall and weighs 105 kilograms (225 pounds). Lior played as a power forward. He was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the Israeli Basketball Premier League in both 2012 and 2015.
Contents
Early Life and Basketball Start
Lior Eliyahu is Jewish and was born in Ramat-Gan, Israel. He started playing basketball in the youth system of Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan. To help his career grow, he moved to the Galil team for the 2004–05 season. This move helped him improve his game a lot.
Professional Basketball Journey
After the 2005–06 season, Lior Eliyahu decided to enter the 2006 NBA draft. He impressed many people at basketball camps in Europe. He also played well in games between his team, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and NBA teams.
In December 2008, Lior made history. He became the first Israeli player to be named the EuroLeague MVP of the Month. This award is given to the best player in the EuroLeague for that month. He played great in all three games that December.
In 2009, Lior signed a four-year contract with a Spanish team called Caja Laboral. He helped his new team win the Spanish national championship in 2010. He scored 18 points in the final game against Barcelona.
In September 2010, Lior returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv. He signed a five-year contract with them. He was named the Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP in 2012 for his amazing performance.
In November 2013, he joined Hapoel Jerusalem. In 2015, he helped the club win its first-ever Israeli championship. He was again named the Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP that year. Lior won another championship with Hapoel Jerusalem in 2017. He continued to play for them, even becoming the team captain in August 2018.
In July 2019, Lior Eliyahu signed with Maccabi Ashdod for the 2019–20 season. He had a great game in October 2019, scoring 22 points and helping his team win. He was named the Israeli League Round 3 MVP for that game. Lior Eliyahu retired from professional basketball in 2020.
NBA Draft Experience
On June 28, 2006, Lior Eliyahu was chosen by the Orlando Magic in the 2006 NBA draft. He was the 44th player picked overall. Later, his draft rights were traded to the Houston Rockets.
Over the years, his draft rights were traded a few more times. In 2012, they went to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Then, in 2019, his draft rights were traded to the Golden State Warriors. This means that if he had decided to play in the NBA, these teams would have had the first chance to sign him.
Playing for Israel
Lior Eliyahu was an important member of the senior Israel national team. He played in many big tournaments, including the EuroBasket in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. He announced his retirement from the Israel national team on May 8, 2018.
Awards and Achievements
Lior Eliyahu received several awards during his career:
- He was part of the All-Tournament Team at the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship in 2005.
- He was an All-Star in the EuroChallenge in 2006.
See also
In Spanish: Lior Eliyahu para niños
