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.”
The rumor mill surrounding Westbrook kicked into overdrive after he declined his $4 million player option with the Denver Nuggets, signaling his intent to seek another opportunity in the NBA.
Speculation soon arose tying the nine-time NBA All-Star to international destinations, including Hapoel Tel Aviv, a club that has recently drawn attention for its willingness to invest in top-tier talent.
But Hinas insists that the Westbrook link was completely fabricated – a byproduct of the club’s rising profile.
“I get that Hapoel Tel Aviv draws attention because we’re spending money,” the GM said.
“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,” he joked.
Returning to a more serious tone, he clarified: “To be serious – it’s not true. There was no interest, and no one approached him.”
Westbrook is expected to remain in the NBA, where multiple teams may still value his experience, energy, and leadership off the bench.
As for Hapoel Tel Aviv, the focus appears to be on more realistic and achievable targets, despite the swirl of offseason speculation.
Here are some of the latest international developments: https://t.co/uJMX3kR3mA
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) June 16, 2025
