Hapoel Jerusalem Assembles Most Expensive Roster in Club History for 2026/27 Season

Hapoel Jerusalem is finalizing its roster for the 2026/27 basketball season, assembling the most expensive lineup in the club's history. The team, coached by Sasa Obradovic, who signed a three-year contract worth $750,000 annually, has significantly increased its payroll compared to previous years. Star guard Jared Harper extended his contract through the 2028/29 season with a salary of $1.7 million per year, tripling his initial contract from two years ago.

New signings have also driven up the team's salary expenses. David Rudy leads the new acquisitions with a $1.5 million annual contract (one year plus an option), followed by Kenny Lofton Jr. at $1.3 million, Devontae Cacok and Shake Milton each at $1 million, and Jalen Smith at $850,000 per season. Returning players include Harper, Nimrod Levi ($650,000), Eitan Borg ($300,000), Roy Huber ($300,000), and Gabi Chachashvili ($180,000).

The total projected salary for the current 10-player roster is approximately $8.78 million, a sharp rise from last season's $5.785 million for 13 players. Notably, this season features five players earning over $1 million, compared to only Harper last year. The club is also close to signing Serbian center Dusan Milicic, who played last season in the EuroCup with Cluj.

This financial boost reflects Hapoel Jerusalem's ambition to compete at a higher level domestically and in European competitions under owner Matan Adelson's leadership.