Hapoel Tel Aviv Extends Antonio Blakeney's Contract Through 2029 Amid Team Rebuild

Hapoel Tel Aviv has secured the future of key scorer Antonio Blakeney by extending his contract through the summer of 2029. The American guard, who has become a central figure in the club's recent professional rise, signed a three-year extension with escalating annual salaries starting at $2.2 million and reaching $2.4 million in the final year. This move comes after the club lost star player Yam Madar to their city rivals, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and follows a turbulent period during which Blakeney left Israel temporarily amid security tensions during the playoffs.

Blakeney's performance last season was impressive, averaging 13.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 41 EuroLeague games with a 40% three-point shooting accuracy, and 12.9 points with 41.2% from beyond the arc in domestic play. Despite interest from other European teams, he chose to remain loyal to Hapoel Tel Aviv's project. After signing, Blakeney expressed excitement about continuing with the team and aiming for championship success in the upcoming season.

Coach Dimitris Itoudis praised Blakeney's hard work and importance to the team's growth, emphasizing expectations for him to help achieve their goals. The contract extension is part of a broader summer strategy led by owner Ofer Yanai to rebuild the squad after Madar's departure. The club has also signed Amir Coffey from the NBA and retained key players like Vasilije Micic, Tai Odiase, and Ish Wainwright. They are currently seeking another foreign point guard and aiming to strengthen their frontcourt, with Zach LaVine reportedly offered a two-year deal worth $5.5 million.

Hapoel Tel Aviv is determined to challenge Maccabi's dominance in the city and make a significant leap in the EuroLeague, with Blakeney as a cornerstone of their ambitions.