Hapoel Jerusalem Signs Forward Kenny Lofton Jr. for Upcoming Season

Hapoel Jerusalem announced the signing of 23-year-old American forward Kenny Lofton Jr. for the upcoming basketball season. After nearly two years playing in the Chinese Basketball Association, Lofton Jr. is set to join the Israeli Premier League team in what is considered one of their most significant acquisitions this summer. The club had previously scouted him two years ago when he was released from the NBA but could not meet his financial demands at that time. This season, Lofton Jr. will earn $1.3 million, second only to teammate Jared Harper.

Lofton Jr. expressed enthusiasm about joining Hapoel Jerusalem and starting his European basketball journey, praising the club's high ambitions and thanking coach Sasha Obradovic and the management for their trust. Coach Obradovic highlighted Lofton Jr.'s rare combination of strength, talent, and game impact, expecting him to contribute significantly on both offense and defense, especially in rebounding and inside presence.

Lofton Jr. first gained international attention at the U19 World Championship, helping the USA defeat France in the final with a strong second-half performance. After two productive college seasons at Louisiana Tech, he went undrafted in the NBA but had brief stints with Memphis, Philadelphia, and Utah before being released in 2024. He then moved to the Shanghai Sharks in China, leading them to a championship last year with averages of 13.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.

Joining Lofton Jr. in Hapoel Jerusalem's frontcourt will be Divante Kaykoc and Dušan Miličić, who has agreed to terms and will sign after completing his season in Lebanon. David Rudy, another recent signing, will also play inside, complementing Israeli forwards and centers Nimrod Levi, Yotam Hanochi, and Gabi Chechashvili. Lofton Jr. is the fourth major signing this summer following Jalen Smith, Kaykoc, and Rudy, with the team expected to add one more guard to finalize the roster.