By Nikola Miloradovic / info@eurohoops.net
Kenny Lofton Jr. has already shown he can make an impression in a single game. Finding a place where those performances can become a regular expectation has been a different challenge.
Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem could offer that opportunity. In his first European club season, the 24-year-old has needed little time to become a major part of its offense.
His latest contribution was also his most decisive: 28 points and 6 rebounds in an 85-84 road victory at Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos, earning him BKT EuroCup Round 3 MVP honors with a performance index rating of 33.
Lofton made 9 of his 12 two-point attempts, his only three-pointer and all 7 free throws. In a game settled by a single point, that efficiency mattered as much as the scoring total.
Through three EuroCup appearances, he is averaging 20.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and a PIR of 23 in just under 25 minutes per game. He opened with 22 points and 10 rebounds against the Rostock Seawolves before adding 11 points and 7 boards at Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana.
European audiences have seen him leave a mark before, just in a different jersey.
At the 2021 U19 World Cup in Latvia, Lofton helped the United States beat Victor Wembanyama’s France in the final. He scored 15 of his 16 points after halftime as the Americans rallied for an 83-81 victory.
Two years later, he delivered another reminder of his scoring ability with 42 points and 14 rebounds in his first NBA start for the Memphis Grizzlies. That performance came shortly after he had been named G League Rookie of the Year.
Neither achievement secured a lasting NBA role. Spells with the Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz followed, along with another unsuccessful attempt to make a roster in Chicago with the Bulls, before Lofton headed to Shanghai.
China gave him room to showcase more of his game. During his first season with the Sharks, he averaged 24.4 points, 12.6 rebounds and 6.5 assists, earning the league’s Best International Player award.
Those passing numbers also help explain why focusing solely on his powerful frame misses part of the picture.
Lofton began as a guard before a high-school growth spurt moved him into the frontcourt. His touch and comfort with the ball complement the strength he uses to establish position near the basket, giving defenders more to consider than simply holding their ground.
Hapoel is already benefiting from that combination. Across his first three EuroCup games, he has drawn 18 fouls, grabbed nine offensive rebounds and converted 16 of 18 free throws.
Three rounds are too few to judge an entire season. But after a career marked by standout performances followed by another change of address, Lofton has made a promising start toward something Jerusalem would gladly welcome: making nights like Burgos feel less exceptional.
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