Ex-Maccabi Tel Aviv Player Advised Jacob Toppin to Join Hapoel Tel Aviv

Jacob Toppin, the new forward for Hapoel Tel Aviv, revealed in an interview that a former Maccabi Tel Aviv player, Jeff Dowtin, advised him to come to Israel. Toppin explained his decision to join Hapoel Tel Aviv, stating that he didn't have a clear path in the NBA after recovering from an injury and felt it was the right time to restart his career. He expressed excitement about joining Hapoel, noting they were the team most eager to sign him.

Toppin also discussed his acclimatization to Israel and playing abroad, mentioning that friends who play overseas enjoy the experience. He specifically cited Dowtin's positive year in Israel as an influence. Toppin described a concise conversation with coach Dimitris Itoudis about mutual expectations and the team's "big aspirations" for the season.

He further credited teammate J'Covan Brown for helping him adjust, describing Brown as a mentor who guided him through the initial confusion. Toppin outlined his perceived strengths on the court, including his ability to guard top players, space the floor, and hit open shots.