Russell Westbrook still has teams who are willing to throw a large bag at him … teams overseas, that is.
Israeli team Hapoel Tel Aviv BC has made initial contact with the nine-time NBA All-Star Westbrook, European basketball reporter Nemanja Zoric revealed on Wednesday. Zoric further notes that Hapoel is planning to make Westbrook “an offer with a salary never seen before in European basketball.”
While Israel is located in the Middle East and is technically a part of Asia, Hapoel also participates in European competitions and does so quite well too. Hapoel just won the EuroCup this season, securing promotion to the EuroLeague (which is the top tier of European basketball).
As for Westbrook, who just completed his first season with the Denver Nuggets, he holds a $3.5 million player option for the 2025-26 season. If Westbrook turns that option down, he will be free to sign with any team (in the NBA or otherwise).
Now 36 years old, Westbrook arguably outplayed the value of his 2025-26 option, averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game this season (albeit on 45/32/66 shooting splits). But Westbrook can also be a headache at times and has a recent history of becoming largely unplayable during the postseason.
As a former MVP who still at least has something to offer to an NBA team, Westbrook seems unlikely to take the overseas route at this point. But Hapoel will certainly do everything that they can to make Westbrook a tempting offer (and did manage to successfully sign a well-known former Westbrook teammate to their club last summer).
