Stoudemire in Maccabi colors
Stoudemire in Maccabi colorsOded Karni

Israel's Basketball Super League (BSL) teams are slated to return to practice on Monday for the first time since the forced break in play, but in the meantime, foreign players on various local squads are up in arms over the forced quarantine.

Former NBA star Amar'e Stoudemire joined foreign players on the league's premier teams, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem, protesting the league's outline for resumption of the 2019/20 season.

Considered one of the greatest basketball players in the Israeli league, Stoudemire recently had an opportunity to prove himself again as he suited up for Hapoel Jerusalem, Maccabi's local rival, for the 2018/2019 season. Today, he slammed the outline for a return to the league's regular play, claiming he was only notified of the fact that he would be left on the outside looking in over the past 24 hours.

"I just learned that all Premier League players are required to stay at homes for two months, while team staff and other residents of the country can enjoy the beautiful summer in Israel," wrote the Maccabi Tel Aviv star who has remained in the country throughout the recent crisis on his social media page.

"I am a single parent who has to take care of his child for food, school and other activities, and there is no way I will stay home for two months. I stayed in Israel throughout the isolation period and obeyed all the rules, but now the players are being punished. Sorry, I can't do that."

At the same time, a second before taking the court for the first time since the coronavirus crisis, the league chairman, Shmuel Frenkel, sent a letter to team leaders emphasizing the importance of following health safety guidelines.

Frankel said that teams that chose to perform independent testing for players could endanger the entire league. "I urge you to make sure all the guidelines and instructions presented in the outline are fully complied with to the smallest detail with an emphasis on home insulation," Frenkel stated in a letter to team owners.

"If the return outline guidelines are not fulfilled, we are exposing ourselves to financial loss and sports injury that will have devastating consequences for teams and the continued existence of the league. The league chairman will not hesitate to impose hefty fines on teams or players who are found in violation of guidelines."