After Title Loss, Noam Yaacov’s Next Step Is NBA Draft Prep

Noam Yaacov and Ostend lost the decisive game of the Belgian league final on Saturday, falling to Antwerp after overtime and a dramatic finish. Antwerp won the series 3 to 2, and for now it was the Israeli guard’s last game with the club.

Yaacov finished the regular season with career-best numbers, averaging 18.2 points, 5.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 50.3% from the field and 39% from three. He will now focus on preparing for the NBA Draft, set for June 23 and 24.

The Athletic’s latest projection has Yaacov going 51st overall to Washington, noting him as one of the players who has improved the most. He started at a G League training camp and advanced to an NBA camp, where he showed physicality and an ability to control the tempo against other likely draft picks. A relatively small number of players entered this year’s draft, which could improve his chances.

Second-round picks usually receive two-year contracts with a third-year option, and that is the kind of deal expected for Yaacov and Emmanuel Sharp. If Yaacov goes undrafted, he can still play in the summer league, where he could earn a contract or a final training-camp invite, and he may also sign a two-way deal that would let him split time between the NBA and the G League. He was selected earlier this season in the G League international draft by Cleveland, further signaling NBA interest. If he does not make the NBA, he is committed to Utah, where he is expected to be the starting point guard. Either way, he will spend next season in the United States.