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

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 team. Yanai revealed that the association approached them months earlier through Amos Frishman, expressing interest in Oturu becoming the next naturalized player. This required contract adjustments, including removing a buyout clause, which Yanai arranged at a cost of $2 million to meet the association's demands for the upcoming season.

However, Yanai claimed the process stalled due to interference from representatives of Maccabi Tel Aviv and smaller clubs like Bnei Herzliya. According to Yanai, these parties pushed to change the rules governing naturalized players, which traditionally benefited the team the player was affiliated with. He suggested this shift was aimed at preventing Hapoel Tel Aviv from gaining an advantage through Oturu's naturalization.

Yanai criticized the association for succumbing to vested interests rather than focusing on promoting Israeli basketball professionally. He stated that if the association operated impartially, Oturu would be the starting center for the national team, but due to the current dynamics, the position instead goes to Beni Sarur. Yanai's remarks highlight ongoing tensions between Israeli basketball clubs and the national association regarding player naturalization policies and competitive fairness.