Amir Coffey Explains Quick Decision to Join Hapoel Tel Aviv

American forward Amir Coffey has joined Israeli basketball club Hapoel Tel Aviv after seven seasons in the NBA, including six with the Los Angeles Clippers. Coffey, 29, revealed in an interview with Euroleague's website that his move to Hapoel was surprisingly swift, as they were the first and only team he spoke with.

Coffey stated that upon initiating contact with Hapoel early in the summer, he actively sought information about the club and life in Tel Aviv. He reached out to former teammates who had played for Hapoel, including Dan O'Rourke, Jonathan Motley, and Patrick Beverley, to gather insights into their experiences. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from these conversations, combined with discussions with the coaching staff and club management, convinced him that Hapoel was the right fit for him at this stage of his career.

His connection with Dan O'Rourke is particularly strong, having played together since childhood through AAU, high school, college, and the G-League. Coffey also noted that he had followed the Euroleague for years due to friends moving to Europe, and he was particularly drawn to the passionate fan base and intense atmosphere of the arenas. His former Clippers teammate Ivica Zubac had also shown him videos of the crowd energy, which he found exciting.

Coffey believes his versatility will allow for a quick integration into the team, emphasizing his ability to play multiple positions on both offense and defense. Despite not being drafted, he built a seven-season NBA career, playing 369 regular-season games and appearing in five postseasons, including the Clippers' Western Conference Finals run in 2021. He described himself as an underdog throughout his career, focusing on his performance and the opinions of his teammates and coaches.

When asked what he wants Hapoel fans to know, Coffey offered a simple message: "I'm just here to win."