Hapoel Tel Aviv Owner Claims Basketball Association Tried to Naturalize Dan Oturu for Israeli Team

On July 26, 2026, Hapoel Tel Aviv owner Ofer Yanai accused the Israeli Basketball Association of attempting to naturalize his team's center, Dan Oturu, as the next naturalized player for the Israeli national basketball team. Yanai revealed that the association approached them months earlier through Amos Frishman, expressing interest in Oturu becoming a naturalized player. To meet the association's demands, Yanai arranged a contract without a buyout clause, costing $2 million to facilitate the change for the upcoming season.

However, Yanai claimed the process stalled due to interference from officials affiliated with Maccabi Tel Aviv and its satellite teams, including Bnei Herzliya. According to Yanai, these parties pushed to change the naturalization rules, which historically favored teams like Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem, to prevent Hapoel Tel Aviv from benefiting from Oturu's naturalization.

Yanai criticized the association for succumbing to vested interests rather than focusing on the sport's development, stating that if the association acted professionally, Oturu would be the starting center for Israel's national team. Instead, he said, the association's behavior ensures that players like Beni Sarur remain in that position. Yanai's comments highlight ongoing tensions between Israeli basketball clubs and the national association regarding player naturalization policies and competitive balance.