Jewish Forward Jacob Toppin Signs Three-Year Deal with Hapoel Tel Aviv Basketball

Hapoel Tel Aviv officially announced the signing of Jewish forward Jacob Toppin on July 29, 2026. The 26-year-old, standing 2.06 meters tall, joins the Israeli Premier League team immediately under coach Dimitris Itoudis ahead of the upcoming season. Toppin, who previously played in New York and for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA, is the younger brother of former Indiana Pacers dunk champion Obi Toppin.

Hapoel Tel Aviv had been tracking Toppin since December, as he fought for his place in the U.S. basketball scene over the past two seasons. His breakthrough in negotiations culminated in a three-year contract worth $1.5 million per season with the reigning Israeli league runners-up. Toppin played college basketball at Kentucky and appeared in 31 NBA games, known for his athleticism and strong defense. His best NBA performance included scoring 17 points with four rebounds for Atlanta.

Joining Hapoel alongside Thomas Storneski, Kadin Currington, Zack LeDay, and Amir Coffey, Toppin expressed excitement about competing with his new teammates and engaging with the club's culture and fans. Coach Itoudis praised Toppin's commitment, versatility to play multiple positions, and eagerness to compete in the EuroLeague and Israeli competitions, welcoming him to the team family.