Given Ofer Yannay’s ambition, many high-profile names have been linked to Hapoel Tel Aviv. One of them is Russell Westbrook, with reports suggesting the club was ready to offer a historic contract. “That’s 100% fake news. There were numbers mentioned — $50 million per year — which is crazy. I get that Hapoel Tel Aviv draws attention because we’re spending money. I counted 37 players who were linked with us. It’s good we’ll have three rosters, because when you have 37 players, it makes things easier (laughs). To be serious — it’s not true. There was no interest, and no one approached him.”
Source: Basketball Sphere
Source: Basketball Sphere
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Jalen Williams is just the 9th player aged 24 or younger to score 40 points in an NBA Finals game.
JDub joins this list:
Devin Booker
Kyrie Irving
Russell Westbrook
Dwyane Wade
Magic Johnson
Rick Barry
Jerry West
George Mikan – 11:54 PM
Jalen Williams is just the 9th player aged 24 or younger to score 40 points in an NBA Finals game.
JDub joins this list:
Devin Booker
Kyrie Irving
Russell Westbrook
Dwyane Wade
Magic Johnson
Rick Barry
Jerry West
George Mikan – 11:54 PM
Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
Jalen Williams, at 24y 63d old, is the youngest player to score 40 in an NBA Finals game since …
Russell Westbrook in 2012 (23y, 220d)
Before that?
Magic Johnson in 1980. (20y, 276d) pic.x.com/bw1xDNJLly – 11:23 PM
Jalen Williams, at 24y 63d old, is the youngest player to score 40 in an NBA Finals game since …
Russell Westbrook in 2012 (23y, 220d)
Before that?
Magic Johnson in 1980. (20y, 276d) pic.x.com/bw1xDNJLly – 11:23 PM
Micah Adams @MAdamsStatGuy
Jalen Williams just turned 24.
Here are the players younger than him to score 40 in a NBA Finals game:
Magic Johnson.
Rick Barry.
Russell Westbrook.
Jerry West.
That’s it. – 11:13 PM
Jalen Williams just turned 24.
Here are the players younger than him to score 40 in a NBA Finals game:
Magic Johnson.
Rick Barry.
Russell Westbrook.
Jerry West.
That’s it. – 11:13 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Only players younger than 24-year-old Jalen Williams to score 40 points in a NBA Finals game: Jerry West, Russell Westbrook, Rick Barry, Magic Johnson. – 11:10 PM
Only players younger than 24-year-old Jalen Williams to score 40 points in a NBA Finals game: Jerry West, Russell Westbrook, Rick Barry, Magic Johnson. – 11:10 PM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
👀 Hapoel Tel Aviv GM rejects Westbrook rumors but confirms that Vasilije Micic remains on the shortlist of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv! pic.x.com/ZexwLpug91 – 8:35 AM
👀 Hapoel Tel Aviv GM rejects Westbrook rumors but confirms that Vasilije Micic remains on the shortlist of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv! pic.x.com/ZexwLpug91 – 8:35 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Hapoel Tel Aviv GM Giorgos Hinas confirms negotiations with Vasilije Micic
🗣 “He’s one of the players we’re interested in, but so are other clubs”
Reaction to Westbrook rumors, positives in talks with other players, and possibly joining #ABALiga
eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/… – 6:36 AM
Hapoel Tel Aviv GM Giorgos Hinas confirms negotiations with Vasilije Micic
🗣 “He’s one of the players we’re interested in, but so are other clubs”
Reaction to Westbrook rumors, positives in talks with other players, and possibly joining #ABALigaeurohoops.net/en/euroleague/… – 6:36 AM
Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Hapoel Tel Aviv GM on Russell Westbrook: That’s 100% fake news sportando.basketball/en/hapoel-tel-… – 5:52 AM
Hapoel Tel Aviv GM on Russell Westbrook: That’s 100% fake news sportando.basketball/en/hapoel-tel-… – 5:52 AM
More on this storyline
Zach Kram: Youngest 40-point scorers in a Finals game: 1. Magic Johnson, 1980 2. Rick Barry, 1967 (3x) 3. Russell Westbrook, 2012 4. Jerry West, 1962 5. Jalen Williams, tonight -via Twitter @zachkram / June 16, 2025
Amid a flurry of offseason transfer rumors, Hapoel Tel Aviv general manager George Hinas has set the record straight on the most high-profile name linked to the club – Russell Westbrook. Speaking to Basketball Sphere’s Vuk-Milos Petrovic, Hinas dismissed reports that the Israeli club had any interest in bringing the NBA star overseas. “That’s 100% fake news,” he said bluntly. “There were numbers mentioned, $50 million per year, which is crazy.” -via TalkBasket / June 16, 2025
Bobby Marks: Denver is $10.6M below the second apron for next season with Russell Westbrook declining his $3.4M option. – 12 players under contract – Flexibility to use the $5.7M tax ML and sign 2 players to the veteran minimum – If Westbrook re-signed with Denver or another team, the cap hit is $2.2M and his salary is $3.6M (10 year plus vet minimum) -via x.com / June 13, 2025