A recent report sparked widespread speculation that free-agent Russell Westbrook could leave the NBA for a move to Israel’s Hapoel Tel Aviv. However, league insiders soon put an end to speculation that the veteran guard is considering an overseas move.
Russell Westbrook Is Not Considering Move to Israel
Westbrook is currently an unrestricted free agent after spending the 2025–26 season with the Sacramento Kings on a one-year, $3.6 million deal.
The nine-time All-Star remains unsigned while waiting for an opportunity, making it the second consecutive offseason in which Westbrook has faced uncertainty while searching for his next team.
Amid the latest uncertainty, an X account operated by Marc Jacob claimed that Westbrook and Hapoel Tel Aviv had mutual interest, citing The Athletic as the source.
The account also reported that discussions between the two sides were progressing and that Westbrook was “seriously considering a move overseas.”
However, the former MVP has not been exploring a departure from the NBA. Philip Lewis of HuffPost quickly clarified that the account responsible for the report was a parody.
“The source for this report is a parody account,” Lewis reported.
The source for this report is a parody account. https://t.co/BHf9QYM3JF pic.twitter.com/kNOoK5fTyJ
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) August 12, 2026
League insider Brett Siegel also moved to dismiss the speculation after checking with multiple people around the league.
According to Siegel, none of his sources had heard anything about Westbrook discussing a potential contract with the Israeli club.
“Amid rumors surrounding Russell Westbrook potentially discussing a deal with Israel’s Hapoel Tel Aviv, I do not believe that to be true,” Siegel wrote. “I’ve asked multiple people with different teams around the NBA if they’ve heard such, and nobody has heard about this.”
Amid rumors surrounding Russell Westbrook potentially discussing a deal with Israel’s Hapoel Tel Aviv, I do not believe that to be true.
I’ve asked multiple people with different teams around the NBA if they’ve heard such and nobody has heard about this.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) August 11, 2026
Westbrook spent his most recent season as an energetic secondary playmaker and backcourt option for Sacramento. The 37-year-old demonstrated that he can still contribute as a productive rotation player despite entering the later stages of his career, averaging 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game.
Despite the production and experience, interest in Westbrook’s services has remained relatively limited during free agency. Nonetheless, the veteran does not appear to be overly concerned about his current situation.
During a CNN interview about his philanthropic work, Westbrook said he is not spending much time worrying about remaining unsigned.
According to reports, the Kings would like to bring Westbrook back for another season, particularly given his potential as a mentor to newly drafted Darius Acuff Jr.
