Israeli basketball legend Mickey Berkowitz’s severe dementia diagnosis revealed in documentary
Berkowitz has been living in a care facility away from his home in recent months, and the film documents his family’s efforts to cope with his condition. Mickey Berkowitz, widely regarded as Israel’s greatest basketball player and one of the country’s greatest athletes, is suffering from severe dementia, it was officially revealed Monday evening during the Channel 12 documentary Mickey…
Mickey Berkowitz, Israel's celebrated basketball player and sporting icon, has been diagnosed with severe dementia, a condition confirmed in a Channel 12 documentary aired on Monday evening. The film, directed by Niv Raskin, reveals the Berkowitz family's long-standing decision to disclose the illness affecting their beloved athlete, a secret held for over two years.
The documentary captures the family's struggle to cope with their hero's deteriorating condition, as Berkowitz now resides in a care facility located away from his home.
Born to Romanian immigrant parents, Berkowitz began his basketball journey at the age of 11, joining Maccabi Tel Aviv's youth team. At 17, he ascended to the senior team, where he quickly gained recognition under the guidance of legendary coach Yehoshua Rozin. At 21, Berkowitz led Israel's youth national team to a fourth-place finish at the European Championship. He subsequently spent a year at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before returning to Maccabi Tel Aviv.
In 1977, at the age of 23, Berkowitz led Maccabi Tel Aviv to their first European Cup championship, defeating Mobilgirgi Varese in the final. Two years later, he guided Israel's national team to a silver medal at the 1979 European Championship, earning him the title of tournament MVP. Although the New Jersey Nets offered Berkowitz a contract in 1981, Maccabi Tel Aviv declined to release him.
During his 16-season tenure with Maccabi Tel Aviv's senior team, Berkowitz secured two European Cup titles, 16 Israeli league championships, and 13 State Cups. Following his final European Cup appearance in 1988, he transferred to Maccabi Rishon Lezion, playing for five seasons. Berkowitz collaborated with his lifelong friend Motti Aroesti during this period, alongside whom he led Maccabi Rishon Lezion to the playoff finals against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Upon retirement, Berkowitz ranked as the second-highest scorer in the Israeli Premier Basketball League, trailing only Doron Jamchi.
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