Hapoel Jerusalem Star Jared Harper Suffers Thumb Ligament Tear, Out for Months

Hapoel Jerusalem announced that their star guard Jared Harper sustained a significant thumb ligament tear during practice, requiring a recovery period of three to five months. This injury will sideline Harper well into the 2026/27 season, causing him to miss key EuroCup and Israeli Basketball Premier League games. The EuroCup season is set to begin at the end of September, with the Israeli league starting around October 11. Harper will miss at least seven EuroCup matches, including clashes against Aris Thessaloniki and Ljubljana, as well as important league games, including away matches against Hapoel and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Harper joined Hapoel Jerusalem in 2024 and quickly became one of the club's best signings in recent years. Last season, he averaged 18.2 points over 23 league games and helped lead the team to the semifinals of both the playoffs and the State Cup. Although he guided the team to finals in both competitions last year, he has yet to secure a major title with the club. This summer, Harper extended his contract with Hapoel Jerusalem for three more years, through the 2028/29 season, with an annual salary of $1.7 million, tripling his original contract from two years ago.