By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Hapoel Tel Aviv has signed a new face in Jabob Toppin with a three-year contract.
Per the press release: Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv Basketball Club is pleased to announce the signing of forward Jacob Toppin on a three-year contract through the end of the 2028–29 season.
Toppin (26, 2.06m / 6’9″) joins Hapoel after spending the last three seasons in the NBA and the NBA G League. Over the course of his NBA career, he made 31 appearances with the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks, averaging 1.4 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game while shooting 51.2% from two-point range and 42.9% from beyond the arc.
He also played for the G League affiliates of both the Knicks and the Hawks, where he established himself as one of the league’s standout forwards. Across 73 career G League games, Toppin averaged 19.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, while shooting 55.7% from two-point range, 33.9% from three and 78.2% from the free-throw line.
Following a four-year collegiate career, including three seasons at the University of Kentucky, Toppin began his professional career after going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft. He signed with the New York Knicks organization and worked his way through the club’s G League system before later joining the Atlanta Hawks. He will now begin the first European chapter of his career with Hapoel.
Widely regarded as one of the most explosive young athletes in American basketball, Toppin also participated in the 2024 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest.
The club is currently working to secure Israeli citizenship for Toppin, based on his Jewish heritage, which would allow him to be registered as an Israeli player in domestic competitions.
Jacob Toppin: “I’m very excited to sign with Hapoel and can’t wait to start competing alongside my teammates. I’m looking forward to meeting the fans, the players, and the coaching staff. I’ve heard so much about the club, and I’m excited to experience the culture, work hard, compete in every competition, and win a championship.”
General Manager, George Hinas: “We continue to strengthen our Israeli core. Jacob is a versatile player who can play multiple positions. He’s athletic, can shoot the ball, and is hungry to win championships in the country where his roots are. We welcome him to our family and wish him the very best.”
Head Coach, Dimitris Itoudis: “I spoke with Jacob, and he is fully committed to joining Hapoel and helping us reach new heights, while also taking his own game to another level. He wants to fight and compete. He can play at least two positions, and he’s excited to experience the EuroLeague and the competitions here in Israel. He understands the level and the physicality of these leagues, and I welcome him to our family.”
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