Abigail Klein Leichman
May 10, 2015, Updated July 5, 2015
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv 2014-15. Photo courtesy of Maccabi Tel Aviv BC
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv 2014-15. Photo courtesy of Maccabi Tel Aviv BC

Next October, six-time European champs Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv and three-time European champs EA7 Emporio Armani Milan will compete in Euro Classic games in Chicago and New York.

Never before have these two Turkish Airlines Euroleague powerhouses faced off against each other during the Euroleague Basketball World Tour in North America.

“After many years of sending our teams to the United States on the Euroleague Basketball World Tour, we are very excited about the opportunity for two of them to play each other there for the first time,” said Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball President and CEO.

The first game is scheduled for October 1 at the United Center in Chicago, marking the first time a Euroleague team will play there. On October 4, Maccabi and Milan will compete in Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden, where Maccabi played to packed arenas against the New York Knicks in 2007 and 2009.

On the Maccabi roster is Jewish forward Sylven Landsberg, a former New York State Mr. Basketball, and University of Florida star center Alex Tyus.

Tickets go on sale in Chicago on May 10 and in New York on May 31, the day of the Celebrate Israel Parade in Manhattan.

Maccabi Tel Aviv and Milan enjoy one of Europe’s most enduring rivalries. In 2014, Maccabi defeated Milan in a best-of-five playoff series to advance to the Final Four and eventually win the Euroleague title. In 1987 and 1988, Milan beat Maccabi in consecutive championship games that featured legends such as Bob McAdoo, Mike D’Antoni and Kevin Magee.

The Tel Aviv team has recently opened an office in New York City as part of its global expansion plans.

“Maccabi Tel Aviv is thrilled to add another exciting chapter to its long history of play in the US, and to continue its leading role in promoting the globalization of basketball,” said Danny Federman, general manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv.

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