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Israeli Team GM Reacts to Russell Westbrook Signing Rumors

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 4:10 PM ET

Nine-time All-Star NBA point guard Russell Westbrook is reportedly entering free agency this summer.

Marc Stein of The Stein Line/Substack reported that the 6-foot-4 UCLA product will decline his $3.5 million player option after one season with the Denver Nuggets and explore the open market.

Long past his All-NBA prime, the 2017 league MVP remains surprisingly athletic, even at age 36, although his defense, late-game decision making, and proclivity to stop the ball could give interested teams pause.

Still, clubs desperate for a veteran point guard presence (I'm talking to you, Sacramento Kings) might not be able to help themselves and opt to take a flier on the future first ballot Hall of Famer.

A rumor emerged that Westbrook might look to take his game abroad, after 17 seasons in the NBA. Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv has been floated as an interested party, at a bloated price point.

Hapoel Tel Aviv has made initial contact with former NBA All Star Russell Westbrook.
Im told the Eurocup champions are planning to make him an offer with a salary never seen before in European basketball.
— Nemanja Žorič (@zoric_nemanja) June 4, 2025

In a new interview with Vuk-Milos Petrovic of Basketball Sphere, Hapoel Tel Aviv general manager George Hinas has vehemently shut down the trade buzz, bemoaning it as "100 percent fake news."

“There were numbers mentioned — $50 million per year — which is crazy,” Hinas told Petrovic. “I get that Hapoel Tel Aviv draws attention because we’re spending money. I counted 37 players who were linked with us. It’s good we’ll have three rosters, because when you have 37 players, it makes things easier (laughs). To be serious — it’s not true. There was no interest, and no one approached him.”

In 75 regular season bouts for Denver, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points on .449/.323/.661 shooting splits, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds a night.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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