A Quiet Battle Off the Court
Miki Berkovich, the 72‑year‑old former star of Israeli basketball, has been living with dementia for more than two years, a reality that has reshaped daily life for the once‑vibrant athlete.
His physical prime, marked by relentless drive and peak conditioning into his late sixties, stands in stark contrast to the present, where close supervision is required to manage basic tasks.
Those closest to him — his wife Shelly Berkovich, longtime friend Motti Aroesti, and former teammate Tal Brody — have taken on the role of constant companions, ensuring that he is never left unattended.
Public engagements have become rare; the most recent high‑profile appearance was at the 2024 Israel Prize ceremony, where his presence drew both admiration and concern.
Shimon Mizrahi, chairman of Maccabi Tel Aviv, noted that signs of the disease began surfacing around two years ago, though they were not immediately obvious to the outside eye. Doron Jamchi, who has watched the decline up close, described the emotional toll of seeing a once‑indomitable figure struggle with memory and cognition.