Jalen Hoard was the standout in the opening game of the championship series, leading Maccabi Tel Aviv on both ends of the court against his former team, Hapoel. The Sports 5 report was published on June 16, 2026, at 21:28 by Alan Shiber.
The article says that in a final, great players rise to the occasion, and Hoard did exactly that with a “fantastic” performance. The piece describes him as powering Maccabi in the title series opener while facing the team he used to play for.
Reaction online was immediate and highly positive. Commentators praised Hoard, with one remark saying, “I don’t remember someone amazing like Hoard at Maccabi Tel Aviv,” while another called him “a level above the game.”