Hapoel Tel Aviv, an Israeli basketball club, has signed NBA star Patrick Beverley, as announced by the guard on his X account and confirmed by the club. Beverley, a 36-year-old with seven NBA teams to his name, will join a talented Hapoel squad that boasts several top players.Hapoel Tel Aviv, an Israeli basketball club, has signed NBA star Patrick Beverley, as announced by the guard on his X account and confirmed by the club. Beverley, a 36-year-old with seven NBA teams to his name, will join a talented Hapoel squad that boasts several top players. Hapoel Tel Aviv has been making waves in the Israeli basketball scene, and Beverley’s addition further strengthens their ambitions to challenge Maccabi Tel Aviv, the two-time reigning champions. The club has also hosted four-time NBA champion Tony Parker and announced that his club, ASVEL Villeurbanne, will participate in a pre-season tournament hosted by Hapoel Tel Aviv. Beverley’s signing is a significant acquisition for Hapoel Tel Aviv, as he brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record as a tough defender. He has played for the Rockets, Clippers, Timberwolves, Lakers, Bulls, 76ers, and Bucks in the NBA, averaging 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Team in 2017. With his return to Europe, Beverley is expected to be a crowd-pleaser in both the Israeli national league and the EuroCup competition. Hapoel Tel Aviv will be aiming to win the league and secure a spot in the Euroleague, and Beverley’s presence will undoubtedly boost their chances. Hapoel Tel Aviv has traditionally played at the Shlomo Group “Drive-In” Arena, but may move to the larger Menora Mivtachim “Yad Eliyahu” Arena, where they would share the facility with Maccabi Tel Aviv. The club has a strong fan base and will be hoping to make a deep run in both domestic and European competitions this season.
Hapoel Tel Aviv owner Ofer Yannay continues to make waves in the Israeli basketball world as the Reds have reached an agreement with NBA star Patrick Beverley, the guard announced Tuesday on his X account, followed by an official statement from the club.
“They gave me everything I asked for… I couldn’t refuse,” the 36-year-old posted via his Pat Bev Pod podcast account, then confirmed via his personal account.
Hapoel will add Beverley to a squad that includes several top players this summer, including Johnathan Motley, Ish Wainwright, Ben Bentil, Marcus Foster and Joe Ragland, as they look to challenge two-time reigning champions and city rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Additionally, Yannay’s Hapoel hosted four-time NBA champion Tony Parker this month, when it was jointly announced that his club, ASVEL Villeurbanne, will come to Israel for a pre-season tournament hosted by the Reds.
“The general manager and the coaching staff determine who the best and most suitable players are for each position. We do everything we can to bring them in – and most of the time we succeed,” Yannay exclaimed. “The addition of Patrick, an exceptional player with a huge motivation to win, is an important part of our desire to build a strong club and a deeper roster that will compete for all the titles. In addition, his signing with Hapoel Tel Aviv will make him an important ambassador for basketball and for Israel, especially now.”
Hapoel Tel Aviv fans (credit: Dani Maron)
General Manager George Hinas added: “This is a very exciting day. Patrick Beverley is joining the Hapoel Tel Aviv family. I would like to thank the owners and all the management who made this possible and of course Patrick, who showed great respect for the club during the meetings with us. Patrick is very excited about the move; he is very hungry and ready to prove and fight for the club and the fans.”
Over the years, a number of top-tier NBA veterans have signed in Israel, including Amare Stoudemire, Nate Robinson and Jordan Farmar. Beverley, known for his tough defensive play, will join that list and arrives in the Holy Land with a rich resume, having played for a whopping seven NBA teams, including the Rockets, Clippers, Timberwolves, Lakers, Bulls, 76ers and Bucks.
In nearly 750 games in the NBA regular season and playoffs, Beverley averaged 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. She was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Team in 2017 and was selected to the Second Team twice in 2014 and 2020.
Beverley, who played for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks from 2006 to 2008, began his professional career overseas with Dnipro in Ukraine, followed by a stop in Athens with Olympiacos and then a season with Spartak St. Petersburg, where he was named EuroCup MVP in 2012.
Beverley’s History with Israeli Basketball
Interestingly, Beverley played under Israeli coach Zvika Sherf at Spartak, sharing the court with Omri Casspi in Houston, and with Yotam Halperin at both Olympiacos and St. Petersburg, while current Hapoel head coach Stefanos Dedas was an assistant at Spartak when the guard played in Russia.
With his return to Europe, Beverley will undoubtedly be a big crowd pleaser, both in the Israeli national league and in the EuroCup competition, where Hapoel Tel Aviv will undoubtedly be looking to win the league and secure a spot in the Euroleague.
If Israel is unable to host matches in the European Championship due to the ongoing war with Hamas, the Reds will play abroad, just like last season. Instead of Belgrade, they will play in Samokov, Bulgaria.
Hapoel Tel Aviv has played in recent seasons at the Shlomo Group “Drive-In” Arena, which seats approximately 3,000 fans, but may move to the larger 10,000-seat Menora Mivtachim “Yad Eliyahu” Arena, where they would share the facility with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
