Maccabi Tel Aviv Signs Center Armando Bacot for $1 Million Season

Maccabi Tel Aviv officially announced the signing of 26-year-old American center Armando Bacot, who stands 2.08 meters tall, to strengthen their frontcourt alongside players Sorokin and Tice. Bacot joins the Israeli Premier League club after playing last season with Fenerbahçe in Turkey. He will earn a salary of one million dollars for the upcoming season.

Bacot's name had been linked to Maccabi Tel Aviv for some time, but the club initially pursued other options before finalizing his signing. Bacot played five seasons at the University of North Carolina Tar Heels before turning professional. In the 2024-25 season, his first after college, he played exclusively in the NBA G League with the Memphis affiliate, averaging 16.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

Despite strong G League stats, Bacot struggled to replicate that impact in the EuroLeague, averaging only 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10 minutes per game over 26 matches. In the Turkish Basketball Super League, he posted 6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 17.5 minutes per game, shooting nearly 50% from the field. Notably, Bacot has not appeared in a EuroLeague game for Fenerbahçe since April 7, when they faced Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Oded Katash will integrate Bacot as a rotation player rather than the primary center. The signing aims to bolster the team's interior presence ahead of the new season.