Hapoel Tel Aviv Advances Talks to Sign Jewish-American Forward Jacob Toppin

Hapoel Tel Aviv is actively negotiating to sign Jacob Toppin, a 26-year-old forward standing 2.06 meters tall, as part of their roster building for the 2026/2027 season. Toppin is considered the club's top target, and a meeting between the player and the team representatives is scheduled during the ongoing NBA Summer League, where Hapoel's professional manager George Chinas and other officials are closely monitoring his performance.

Toppin, who currently plays for the Atlanta Hawks' Summer League squad, has appeared in one game so far, contributing 2 points, a rebound, and a block in 12 minutes during a win against San Antonio. The club has been tracking the Jewish-American forward since December, valuing his status as a non-foreign player due to his Jewish heritage.

Born in May 2000 in Brooklyn, New York, and the brother of Obi Toppin from Indiana, Jacob began his basketball career at Ossining High School and played college basketball at Rhode Island and Kentucky. Although undrafted in 2023, he signed a 10-day contract with the New York Knicks, appearing in nine games during his rookie season with an average of 1.4 points per game. He played 16 games the following season before being released in March and subsequently joining the Atlanta Hawks.

Toppin's recent NBA tenure was limited due to a shoulder injury in December 2025, which required surgery and ended his season. He was released by the Hawks on December 15 but returned to play in the current Summer League. Overall, he has appeared in 31 NBA games, averaging 3.4 minutes and 1.4 points per game. Hapoel Tel Aviv hopes to finalize his signing soon to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season.