What was rumored days ago is now official. Maccabi Tel Aviv announced Saturday night the signing of Pierria Henry on a trial contract. The 33-year-old point guard has not played an official game since January 2023 and will not be able to debut until January, when his 48-month FIBA ban for doping control manipulation expires.
Another point guard while waiting for January
The Israeli club will not wait for Henry to strengthen the backcourt: it has announced it will sign another point guard over the next two months. The need is evident. Head coach Oded Kattash's team sits second-to-last in the EuroLeague with a 2-8 record, has Iffe Lundberg sidelined, and debuts this week at its new home in Limassol against Hapoel. The trial contract formula allows the club to assess the physical condition of a player who has been out of competition for nearly four years.
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One of EuroLeague's best playmakers
Before the ban, Henry was one of Europe's best point guards. In his four seasons in the EuroLeague with Baskonia and Fenerbahçe, he played 100 games averaging 9 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.7 steals, and was the competition's fourth-leading assist provider during that period. He was named Matchday MVP twice with Baskonia. In his final season, 2022-23, he averaged 9.9 points and 6.2 assists in 13 games before his suspension.
Before that, he had success in the EuroCup with Ulm, Tofaş, and UNICS Kazan, with whom he was named Regular Season MVP in 2018-19. He won the Liga Endesa championship in 2020 with Baskonia and the Turkish league title in 2022 with Fenerbahçe. Maccabi will be his second team in Israel, following his stint with Hapoel Eilat in 2016-17.