Roman Sorkin Feels 'Invisible' Amid Contract Talks With Maccabi Tel Aviv

Israeli basketball player Roman Sorkin expressed disappointment and a feeling of being overlooked by his team, Maccabi Tel Aviv, following recent contract negotiations. Sorkin, a prominent player for the club, had expected a significant salary upgrade after a strong season, but felt his contributions were not adequately recognized when the team signed new players and renewed other contracts.

Following Israel's loss to Latvia, which eliminated their chances for the FIBA World Cup, Sorkin gave an interview stating, "There are no contacts right now. Unfortunately, there was an irrelevant offer. I have three years left on my contract, so the fans can rest assured, I will be at Maccabi." He added, "Life is full of lessons, I have learned and will learn from this. I am disappointed with many things."

Sorkin signed a five-year deal in the summer of 2024 worth $900,000 per season, with annual increases. Last season, he earned approximately $1.1 million. Despite his disappointment, his contract binds him to Maccabi Tel Aviv for three more years, with the NBA being his only potential exit, a fact that led him to reassure fans of his commitment.

Sources close to Sorkin indicated that he felt "invisible" and that discussions about his contract only began after the team had finalized other signings. He was reportedly hurt and disappointed by the perceived lack of priority given to his situation, especially after a strong personal season where he played significant minutes, even in the playoffs while injured.

During this period, Maccabi signed two new centers and upgraded other players' contracts. Sorkin recently received a new contract offer of around $1.2 million per season, which did not meet his expectations. A subsequent offer, slightly higher at just over $1.3 million net per season, was also made, but Sorkin has not yet responded, deeming the offers "irrelevant."