Hapoel Owner Slams Jalen Hoard After Derby Flare-Up in Game 1 Loss
Maccabi Tel Aviv opened the Israeli league finals with a dominant 96-75 home win over Hapoel Tel Aviv, taking a 1-0 lead in the series on June 16, 2026. From the start, Maccabi controlled the game, led by strong performances from Jalen Hoard, Jimmy Clark, John DiBartolomeo, Bar Timor Brist and Roman Sorkin.
Hapoel will try to respond and tie the series on Thursday. After the game, one of the most talked-about moments was a confrontation involving the former Hapoel player and a fan.
Hoard, who had a heated exchange near the end, said he was happy with the win and with Maccabi’s response after a poor previous outing. “The fight? The fan was talking to Jimmy, so I tried to be there for my friend. That’s all,” he said. “Every derby brings a lot of emotion. I have played in three of them, and they are games that are fun to play.”
Hapoel owner Ofer Yannay reacted on social media and tagged Hoard, writing that leaving the court to threaten a fan with no referee response showed the officials did not know the rules. He added, “He cannot play in this series anymore,” and said he expects a response from the basketball federation.
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