While it looked like there was perhaps at least a small chance that long-stashed Israeli point guard Yam Madar might finally join the Boston Celtics this coming season, instead Madar finds himself embroiled in a contract dispute for the second time in his career.
Madar, who previously fought with Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv to leave that team’s roster to make the leap to a higher level of competition, now finds himself at odds with European club KK Partizan Mozzart Bet, having since decided to take his talents to the Turkish basketball powerhouse Fenerbahce Beko after “delayed payments”.
Per Eurohoops’ Bugra Uzar, the Israeli has signed a two-plus-one-year deal with the Istanbul-based ball club that plays in both the Turkish Basketball Super League and the EuroLeague.
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Madar put up 5.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game with Partizan last season on his way to earning the “Rising Star” award of the EuroLeague for the 2022-23 season.
“Fenerbahce doesn’t have to pay any kind of buyout for Madar, since the player was signed as a free agent,” writes Uzar. “Partizan intends to go to BAT, asking for compensation, but the chances are against them and it’s doubtful if they will proceed. Madar used a clause on his contract about delayed payments and got released.”
Soon after, Partizan released a statement regarding the exit (via Eurohoops):
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 12, 2023
“Partizan Mozzart Bet does not accept the unilateral termination of the contract by the player, Yam Madar.”
“The club has paid all the contractual obligations towards the player, as well as the obligations towards the CAA agency with which the club has signed a contract as they represented Yam Madar. In this case, Partizan Mozzart Bet will seek justice before FIBA authorities, where we will request an urgent procedure.”
“The warning email from the American Agency CAA was sent from an email address that has never been used in communication with the club before. The complete mailing system of KK Partizan Mozzart Bet is located on the Microsoft server, which recognized it as “junk mail”. The Microsoft certificate is impossible to falsify and the club has official proof that the disputed mail ended up as “junk”.”
“At no time, neither in writing nor orally, did the player inform the club that he had changed the agency that represents him in Europe.”
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“Partizan Mozzart Bet learned about the problem for the first time when, at a meeting with the new agency represented by Misko Raznatovic, he saw a disputed email and a printed potential termination of the contract.”
To read the rest of the release, click here.
Madar, for his part, released a statement of his own, more geared towards the fans of his now-former team: “My family, there are moments in life of difficult decisions and the most difficult ones are the decisions that involve emotion.”
“I have big emotions for the Club, but last 10 days I saw that emotions are not mutual, and I didn’t have a real choice.”
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 12, 2023
“I want to thank you for all the love and support that you showed for making me feel at home when I was far away. Especially I want to thank our fans because you gave me experiences that will last In my heart forever, I had the privilege of playing for your club and wearing your jersey.
“I’m honored to say I was playing for the best coach in the world, a coach who is first of all an amazing human being and a lifelong mentor, so thank you for choosing me and changing my life. Thanks to all the coaching staff and everyone that was part of us. You will always be in my heart. My teammates I love every one of you I wish great success to those who leave and to my brothers who stays I’ll always be a fan and support club no matter where I go.”
“Until we meet again, Yam,” closed the stashed Celtics guard.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 12, 2023
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