Fearless Scorer Shake Milton Joins Hapoel Jerusalem Aiming for EuroCup Glory

Hapoel Jerusalem officially announced the signing of guard Shake Milton on July 31, 2026. Milton, who joined the EuroLeague last season after several notable years in the NBA, arrives at the Israeli capital club as it pursues a EuroCup title. Milton’s basketball journey began with a nickname given before birth, inspired by his father Myron Milton’s college moniker “Milk.” Raised in a small Oklahoma high school and playing college basketball at SMU, Milton was selected 54th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Unlike many late-round picks, Milton carved out a significant NBA career, appearing in 359 games. He steadily improved from averaging 4.4 points in his rookie season to becoming a key contributor in his second year, highlighted by a memorable sideline altercation with Joel Embiid during a 2019-20 game. Doc Rivers praised Milton’s aggressive play and ball-handling, noting his career-best 13 points per game in the following season. However, after five seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, Milton struggled to find a stable role, moving between several NBA teams including Minnesota, Detroit, New York, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Milton’s transition to Europe began in July 2025 when he signed with Partizan Belgrade under coach Željko Obradović. Despite high expectations and a lucrative contract, Milton faced injuries and adaptation challenges, averaging just 6.9 points per game with poor three-point shooting (25.7%). His performance was widely regarded as a failure, and he struggled to secure a consistent rotation spot.

Now joining Hapoel Jerusalem, Milton hopes to revive his career under a new Obradović coach. Standing 1.93 meters tall, he is expected to play primarily as a shooting guard, leveraging his pick-and-roll skills alongside former NBA players David Rudy and Kenneth Lofton Jr. His defensive toughness and experience could be valuable assets in the EuroCup. However, questions remain about his shooting consistency, which declined from 36.5% in Philadelphia to under 30% in recent years. If Milton regains his shooting form, he could be a key offensive weapon for Jerusalem as they aim to return to the EuroLeague in 2027-28.