Playing in Israel has different challenges for Sylven Landesberg

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL — Sylven Landesberg has, in his words, "stories for days" about Israel.

In the summer of 2013, Landesberg, then a 23 year-old reserve guard for Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, was sent on a four-day survival expedition into the woods as part of a six-week basic training program in preparation for his service in the Israeli Defense Force.

He was given the bare minimum for survival — a sleeping bag, a gun, and not much else. For each meal, his group was given a box consisting of four cans of tuna, a loaf of bread, a can of corn, a can of dates, and halva to split amongst him and seven other peers.

During those four days, he didn't shower. He went to the bathroom only on occasion. He slept with his boots on, covered head to toe in, in fear of giant scorpions climbing into his fully zipped sleeping bag. For Landesberg, a New York City kid — a Queens kid to be more exact — it was a totally new experience.

"That was rough, that was some real-life experience," Landesberg said. "You learn how to open a can of tuna with your dog tag, you learn how to shoot your gun. It was crazy. I told my homies back home that they would never survive that."

Though he might have stories for days, Landesberg's time in Israel has been one giant, ongoing story with an unfinished ending. The child of a Jewish father and a Trinidian mother, Landesberg made Aliyah — the official name of the Israeli citizenship process — in 2010 upon signing with Maccabi Haifa. With the combination of his Jewish roots and the benefits of an increased salary, Landesberg said that at the time, becoming a citizen "just made sense."

Since then, Lasndesberg has been one of the most dynamic players in Israel. In 2012, in just his second season, he finished second in the Israeli Basketball Super League with 20.7 points per game. The next season, he signed a three-year deal with Euroleague powerhouse, Maccabi Tel Aviv, a club that has a rich history of being a springboard to the NBA for American players, such as Jordan Farmar, Anthony Parker, and Will Bynum.

Though he's had to sacrifice minutes and a larger role as part of Maccabi Tel Aviv, he's still been able to make a significant impact. As a role player last year, he helped the club capture its seventh Euroleague title — second most in the Euroleague — a feat in which he takes great national pride.

Currently, Landesberg is Maccabi Tel Aviv's youngest rotational player, and his 8.5 points per game in the Euroleague and 12.9 points per game in the IBSL, place him third and second on the team, respectively.

"He's a great scorer," Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Guy Goodess said. "He's dynamic off the dribble and he's just got a nose for the hoop. He works very hard and is very serious about improving his game."

Landesberg, the 2008 Mr. Basketball of New York State and 2009 ACC Freshman of the Year, turned pro in 2010, after starring at Virginia for two years. He finished with career averages of 16.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

"He was just fantastic back then, a total team-player" said Lloyd Devine, a former coach of Landesberg's at Holy Cross High School in Flushing, Queens. " He had an amazing work ethic, was well-grounded, and was never a headache."

Unfortunately, his time with the Cavaliers was marred by a late-season suspension during his sophomore year, the result of missing a few classes — a violation of team rules.

At a crossroads about transferring or entering the NBA Draft following his sophomore season, Landesberg chose the latter. Following a stint with the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Summer League, he signed with Maccabi Haifa.

Landesberg came to Israel hoping for it to be a brief stop, a place where he could showcase his skills in order to get another shot at the NBA.

He has seemingly fallen in love with Israel the country, with its beaches and mountains, and has accustomed himself to the brash Israeli culture.

"Growing up in New York, playing in the parks, I never thought I'd be playing basketball in Israel," Landesberg said. "Every kid's dream is to play in the NBA, and it's still mine, but I've really enjoyed my time in Israel. It's been fantastic"

Mandatory national service was a small price to pay for Landesberg, who recenlty completed his 18-month stint in the Israeli Defense Force. Though he held an athlete-cushioned position as a military-base gym supervisor on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, he beams with pride at the mention of serving the country, especially at the accomplishment of completing the six weeks of basic training, during which he lost 25 pounds.

"At the time, I hated basic training" Landesberg said. "Now that I'm out, I miss it. We were very close. I still speak to some of the guys in my group to this day"

Though he completed his service off the court a month ago, Landesberg isn't anywhere close to finishing his time on it.

Despite the fact that Maccabi Tel Aviv was bounced from the Euroleague playoffs in the Quarterfinals last week, Landesberg's season isn't over. The club, which is in first place with a 23-4 record, is looking to capture its second straight IBSL championship, with Landesberg leading the charge.

Though he might still have dreams of playing in the NBA, Landesberg has put those dreams on hold for just a bit longer. Last week, he signed a three-year contract extension with Maccabi Tel Aviv, with an option for a fourth year.

"He's the future of Maccabi Tel Aviv," said Maccabi Tel Aviv General Manager, Danny Federman. "At 25, he's still young, but has a lot of experience. He's going to be the face of the club for the next few years."

With a few more years in Israel, his collection of "stories for days" might just get a little bigger.