Surprising report: Russell Westbrook is a candidate for Hapoel Tel Aviv
According to several reports, one of the greatest NBA players of the last two decades and the 2016/17 MVP is on the radar of the "Reds". Panathinaikos and Dubai are also monitoring the situation.
After securing the continuation of Tomer Ginat's tenure, Hapoel Tel Aviv continues to work on building its roster for the 2026/27 season. However, the club found itself at the center of particularly intriguing reports in Europe on Tuesday, as the "Reds" were mentioned as one of the teams exploring the possibility of signing Russell Westbrook.
According to the reports, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Panathinaikos, and Dubai are monitoring the status of the 2016/17 NBA MVP, who is still searching for the next stop in his career. The 37-year-old point guard is a free agent after completing one season with the Sacramento Kings. Although he averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.4 rebounds in 76 games, journalist Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report has already reported that the Kings do not intend to offer him a new contract.
From a professional standpoint, a potential move by Westbrook to Europe would be considered one of the most significant transfers seen on the continent in recent years. Even at his advanced age, he still brings exceptional athleticism, the ability to generate points in transition, and the vast experience of more than 1,200 regular-season NBA games.
Westbrook began his path in Oklahoma City, where he played for 11 years. Later, he moved to Houston, Washington (where he teamed up with Deni Avdija), the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver, and of course, Sacramento.
Westbrook is considered one of the most famous players in the NBA over the last two decades. During his career, he was selected nine times for the All-Star game, won the NBA MVP title, broke the all-time triple-double record, and was included in the list of the 75 greatest players in league history. According to estimates, Westbrook will continue to pursue another contract in the NBA at this stage. Only if he fails to find a team in the USA could a first-ever move to Europe become a real possibility.
