Rany Belaga spoke to Basketball Sphere about his career, the Israeli national team, his idols, and much more.
In the classification round of the U20 EuroBasket in Ljubljana this July, Rany Belaga went for 16 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists against Latvia — only the eighth triple-double in the history of the competition. It came in a tournament where Israel’s captain led his team in rebounds, assists and efficiency at 14.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game, and where only Spain’s Raul Villar averaged more assists in the entire field.
Belaga grew up in Emek Hefer watching Milos Teodosic and Kostas Sloukas, which is more or less the kind of player he has become: a big guard who runs a team. The national team jersey has been a constant. He was part of the side built around Ben Saraf that took fourth place at the 2024 U18 EuroBasket in Tampere, with a 20-point, seven-rebound game against eventual silver medalists Serbia along the way, and of the group that carried Israel to its first U19 World Cup a year later, where he averaged 12.5 points and 7.3 rebounds as the team finished seventh in Lausanne. By Ljubljana, the team was his to run.
The club career has moved more quietly. A product of the Hapoel Emek Hefer youth program, he signed a four-year contract with Hapoel Jerusalem at 18 and spent the past two seasons at A.S. Ramat HaSharon in the second-tier Liga Leumit, playing a real role in a professional team while the bigger stage waited. In late July, days after Ljubljana, Jerusalem loaned the 1.99m guard to Hapoel Galil Elyon — his first season in Israel’s top flight begins this autumn, at 20.
Rany Belaga messed around and got a triple-double. 🌶️
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) July 19, 2026
📊 16 PTS | 10 REB | 12 AST | #U20EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/GY9bpVCIgr
Before the contracts and the travelling, there was just a kid in Israel with too many sports to choose from. We asked him how basketball ended up being the one that stuck.
,,When I was a child, I used to play a lot of sports. I played tennis, soccer, and volleyball. In fifth grade, when the basketball league in Israel started, my parents told me I needed to choose one sport and stick to it. I loved basketball the most, so I chose that and kept playing only basketball.”
Talk turned to the players he watched growing up. Two guards, both playmakers, both with long careers in Europe behind them.
,,Growing up, I used to love watching Milos Teodosic and Kostas Sloukas” – Rany Belaga said.
Emek Hefer is the club where everything started: a hometown club, in the truest sense. We touched on those early years, and on what the program has grown into since.
,,It was a great experience. There’s no better feeling than playing home games in front of a packed crowd at this club. I’m originally from Emek Hefer, so I was fortunate to naturally grow up in a place where basketball is such a big and meaningful part of the community. I think the club gave me a lot in my development as a player.
Their youth development program is amazing and continues to improve and grow every year. There’s no doubt that today they are one of the top youth clubs in Israel and even in Europe.”
At eighteen, a call from Hapoel Jerusalem is the kind of thing that changes the shape of a career overnight. The conversation moved to that summer, and to how the whole thing actually came about.
,,It felt amazing. I had great talks with the management and staff over there and really felt how much they believed in me and wanted this move to happen. I’ve always worked extremely hard, and it felt good to get that opportunity.”
Two seasons at Ramat HaSharon, with proper minutes and a proper role in the team. That kind of spell tends to tell you a lot about a young player, so the next question was about what he got out of it.
,,I think the last two seasons were very good for me. I’ve had the opportunity to work on my game and keep developing, also physically, while getting to play a big role on a competitive pro team. I think the connection between Jerusalem and Ramat Hasharon allowed me to take major steps forward in my development and career.”
The jump from juniors to seniors is the one that filters most young players out, and he made it earlier than most. What changes, what hits you first, and what gets you through it — that was the next topic.
,,There is a very big difference. Senior basketball has a lot more structure, planning, and tactics. Obviously, the size and athleticism are also on another level. But I think as long as you are consistent in your work and coachable, you will be able to make that transition smoothly.”
Four years in the national team shirt, and the answer to this one goes well past basketball. He spoke about what it means to him at this particular moment, with people close to him serving.
,,It means everything, especially at these times, when I have some close friends and also my brother who are serving in combat units and sacrificing their lives for us. For me to be able to represent and try to give the people some happiness and pride, it’s more than just playing basketball.”
The U20 EuroBasket brought him big numbers, but Israel didn’t get as far as he’d hoped. Rany Belaga was honest about the gap between the two, and about how he graded his own summer.
,,I’ll be honest, I always aim for a top-eight finish in the tournament. That’s actually my first time not making it, so I was disappointed by that. On the individual side, I think I’ve shown my character and abilities on the court. With that being said, I also feel like there is a lot more in me that I didn’t show, and I want to keep working and showing my abilities.”
Next season takes him to Hapoel Galil, a club with plenty of history behind it and a following to match. Naturally, the talk moved to what’s expected there and what he wants out of the year.
,,Galil is very special. It’s a historic club in Israeli basketball, with an amazing community and culture. I’m super happy to take part in this and help the team be competitive and successful, and, as always, keep working on my game, developing, and being dominant” – Rany Belaga said.
Every young player gets asked about the plan ahead, and the answers usually say something about how far they’re willing to look. His was short, and pointed in one clear direction.
,,I don’t want to put a ceiling on myself, but I would love to play for the senior national team, of course.”
