By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After playing in the NBA and China, T.J. Leaf will finally play in Israel, where he was born, for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
As the club announced, “Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club has signed T.J. Leaf to a three-year deal. The Israeli forward-center (2.08 meters, 28) was born in Tel Aviv while his father, Brad Leaf, played for the Yellows. Now the son joins Oded Katash’s front line, who played alongside Brad, after several years in the NBA and a few seasons in which he starred in the Chinese league.
T.J. Leaf usually plays as a power forward, but can also play as a center. He is a long, mobile, and versatile player who was selected 18th overall in the NBA draft and played 146 games for Indiana and Portland. Last season, he averaged 22.1 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game for Nanjing in the Chinese League. Leaf also previously represented Israel’s youth team and was included in the senior team’s extensive roster for the upcoming EuroBasket.
“T.J. Leaf was one of our goals. For years, we have been trying to bring T.J. to Tel Aviv, and we are very happy that he will join soon,” mentioned general manager Claudio Coldebella. “This is a great addition to our club. We will strengthen the roster of Israeli players as part of our concept. This is a player with extensive experience in the NBA and outside the United States. A talented player with a lot of motivation to show himself at the highest level of European basketball.”
“T.J. is a player with experience at the highest levels and has tremendous potential,” stated coach Oded Katash. “He brings with him impressive offensive abilities. We see him developing with us and leading us to our goals in the upcoming season.”
“It’s a dream come true to play for such a historic club and in a place that has such importance to me,” shared T.J. Leaf in his first message as a Maccabi player. “I want to thank the coaching staff and the management for this opportunity. I can’t wait for this moment when I will play in front of the amazing Maccabi fans. Let’s get to work”.