Hapoel Jerusalem Eyes Fenerbahce Center Gilson Bango

Hapoel Jerusalem announced on Monday that Sasha Obradovic has been hired as head coach on a three-year contract, and the club is already building its roster for the 2026/27 season. With the exception of Jared Harper, most of the foreign players are expected to leave, and one of the names now linked with the team is Fenerbahce center Gilson Bango.

Bango, 27, stands 2.08 meters tall and is under contract with Fenerbahce. The Angolan big man began his career in Angola, where he was named league MVP in both 2021 and 2022. He then moved to Europe and joined Braunschweig, where he became one of the most important centers in the German league.

After two strong seasons there, he signed with Zaragoza and averaged more than 13 points and 5 rebounds per game in Spain and in the EuroCup at the start of the 2024/25 season. Those numbers quickly convinced Fenerbahce to pay a 600,000-euro buyout and bring him in during the season on a contract running through the end of 2026/27.

His role in Istanbul was limited, and he posted 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds per game in the EuroLeague, which Fenerbahce won that season. Bango then injured his knee while playing for Angola at the African Championship last summer, tearing his ACL and missing the entire 2025/26 season. He now could land in Jerusalem as part of the club’s offseason rebuild.