Israeli Basketball Association Denies Hapoel Tel Aviv Owner's Claims About Dan Oturu Naturalization

The Israeli Basketball Association has officially denied claims made by Hapoel Tel Aviv owner Ofer Yanai regarding the naturalization process of player Dan Oturu. Yanai alleged that the association wanted Oturu to be the next naturalized player for the Israeli national team but that Maccabi Tel Aviv officials sabotaged the effort. In response, the association clarified that its chairman never approached Yanai or his representatives about Oturu or any other player’s naturalization. Instead, it was Hapoel Tel Aviv representatives who initiated contact and requested a meeting to discuss Oturu’s naturalization.

The association emphasized that the committee formed to select the next naturalized player is focused solely on establishing the selection procedure, not on choosing specific players. The chairman informed Hapoel representatives that Oturu is a strong candidate among others and explained that the selection process involves a three-person panel, excluding the chairman. It was also made clear that any chosen player would face a lengthy approval process and would not be eligible to play in upcoming windows. The association noted that selecting a naturalized player for summer 2026 is not currently under consideration, as the team already has two naturalized players, Kadin Carrington and Danny Wolf, with only one eligible to register for games.

The statement further rejected Yanai’s sabotage claims as unfounded, stating no selection has taken place to be sabotaged. Representatives from Maccabi Tel Aviv and Bnei Herzliya were invited to advise the committee before conclusions are made. The committee’s discussions have focused exclusively on procedural matters, with final recommendations to be presented to the association’s management. The association accused Yanai of regularly attacking and attempting to defame it contrary to facts, affirming its commitment to transparency and advancing Israeli basketball without conspiracy theories.