Oded Kattash
IsraelBiography of Oded Kattash
Oded Kattash is an Israeli basketball player and basketball coach. He was born in Givatayim, a suburb of Tel Aviv, and began playing basketball in the youth team of the club "Maccabi" (Ramat Gan). At the age of nine, he moved to the sports school of the club "Maccabi" (Tel Aviv) and played in the youth championship of Israel.
Early Career
At the age of 17, Kattash spent one season (1991-1992) in the affiliate club "Maccabi" (Tel Aviv), "Maccabi Darom", before moving to "Maccabi" (Ramat Gan) and then to "Hapoel" (Upper Galilee), which ended the streak of 23 consecutive championships for the Tel Aviv "Maccabi". He finished second in the Israeli championship with "Hapoel" and won his first national championship award. The following year, he signed a contract with his hometown club and won four consecutive Israeli championships and two Israeli Cups with the Tel Aviv team.
International Success
Kattash was known for his partnership with Doron Sheffer, another strong guard, and together they formed a formidable duo known as "Katasher" among the fans. In the 1997 European Championship, Kattash averaged 22 points per game, the highest among all players in the tournament. Although the Israeli national team finished ninth, Kattash was included in the All-Tournament Team. He also participated in the FIBA EuroStars games in 1997 and 1999.
NBA Dream and Injury
Kattash had the opportunity to become the first Israeli player in the NBA. He signed a contract with the New York Knicks for the 1998-99 season but was unable to play due to the NBA lockout that year. As a result, he returned to "Maccabi" and then signed a contract with the Greek super club "Panathinaikos". With "Panathinaikos", Kattash won the Greek Cup and the Greek championship. In the final game of the EuroLeague, he faced "Maccabi" and scored 17 points, including a three-pointer at the end of the game that played a crucial role in determining the outcome. After the season, Kattash suffered a serious injury and spent the next year on the bench. Despite undergoing several surgeries over the years, he was unable to return to the court. In June 2004, it was announced that he would be leaving the team.
Coaching Career
Kattash began his coaching career immediately after retiring as a player, starting with "Hapoel" in Upper Galilee. With this modestly funded team, he finished second in the regular season of the 2004-2005 season and won the bronze medal in the Israeli championship in 2007. He was then invited to coach "Maccabi" in Tel Aviv but conflicts with the team's sports director and a series of unsuccessful games in the domestic league led to his departure. In the second half of the season, Kattash returned to "Hapoel" (Upper Galilee) and saved them from relegation. The following year, he led "Hapoel" to another bronze medal in the national championship and, in 2010, achieved a sensational victory in the final, winning the national championship for the second time in the history of the club from Upper Galilee.
