The Winner League Board and the Players Association have agreed on the principles of a multi-year deal focused on continuing to strengthen the status of the Israeli player, increasing the resources directed toward their development and well-being, and making more effective use of the “Israeli Player Promotion Standards” funds.
According to the outline, each team will be permitted to register up to five foreign players on the match sheet, alongside the requirement to have at least one Israeli player on the court at all times, while simultaneously being allowed to register up to eight foreign players with the Israel Basketball Association. Over the course of the entire season, a team may register up to ten foreign players with the association, paying NIS 130,000 for registering a ninth foreign player and NIS 260,000 for a tenth.
If teams register up to seven foreign players throughout the season, they will be eligible to receive funds generated from the payments made by other teams for ninth and tenth foreign players. Teams that choose to permanently register up to four foreign players on the match sheet will receive NIS 1.2 million more than teams that register five foreign players.
In addition, teams are required to maintain one player under the age of 25 and one player under the age of 22 on the match sheet throughout the entire season in order to receive funds under the minister’s framework.
The agreement was signed directly between the league board and the players’ representatives, based on the principle that the proper way to advance Israeli basketball is through direct, constructive, and responsible dialogue among the sport’s key stakeholders, with a long-term view toward the best interests of the players, teams, and the entire league. The agreement will be valid for the upcoming season, and following the publication of the minister’s framework, it will take effect for an additional four years.
A key component of the agreements is the establishment of a dedicated fund for the well-being and development of the Israeli player, which will be funded, among other sources, by the fees collected for registering ninth and tenth foreign players and by balancing mechanisms established under the deal. The purpose of the fund is to ensure that a more significant portion of the resources intended for advancing the Israeli player actually reaches them and is invested in their progress.
The agreements also include mechanisms designed to increase the number of opportunities available to Israeli players, while maintaining the professional level of the league.
Winner League Board Chairman Ari Steinberg said: “This agreement is intended to strengthen the Winner League and Israeli basketball, to see more Israeli players develop and receive opportunities, and to ensure that the resources allocated for this purpose are used in the best possible way. At the same time, we recognize the importance of foreign players and their contribution to the league’s professional standard. The goal is not to create a battle between Israelis and foreigners, but to find the right balance that allows the league to remain competitive and professional, while securing a better future for Israeli players.”
Attorney Sagi Chen, representing the Players Association, said: “The agreements are intended first and foremost to promote and improve the status of the Israeli player in the Premier League, and to ensure that they receive more opportunities and resources for development and well-being. Along with this, we understand that foreign players also play an important role in the professional level and competitiveness of the league. The goal is not to remove foreign players from the equation, but to create a proper balance that allows the league to remain high-quality and competitive, while simultaneously offering the Israeli player more opportunities. The establishment of the fund and the guarantee of better utilization of framework funds are significant achievements. Instead of confrontations and struggles, we chose direct dialogue and practical solutions for the benefit of all parties.”