Hapoel Tel Aviv have taken another major step in building their roster for the upcoming season, officially announcing that Antonio Blakeney has signed a new three-year contract with the club.
The extension keeps one of Hapoel’s most important offensive weapons in Tel Aviv after an impressive debut EuroLeague campaign.
Blakeney rewarded after impressive EuroLeague debut
The 28-year-old guard enjoyed the best European season of his career in 2025/26, making an immediate impact in his first appearance in the EuroLeague.
Blakeney played 41 games, averaging 13.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per contest while shooting an outstanding 40% from three-point range, establishing himself as one of Hapoel’s primary scoring options throughout the season.
His performances were among the bright spots of Hapoel’s campaign and convinced the club to secure his future with a long-term deal.
הסיפור ממשיך 🫱🏻🫲🏼
— Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) July 10, 2026
לכל הפרטים: https://t.co/sLFzzw9OWY pic.twitter.com/bTgBOky2WN
FBI investigation brought Blakeney into the spotlight
Away from the court, Blakeney’s name attracted significant attention last year after being linked to a U.S. federal investigation into an alleged basketball gambling and game-fixing operation in China.
According to the investigation, Blakeney was identified as one of the alleged ringleaders in a college basketball gambling and game-fixing scheme involving 26 defendants. The case generated widespread media coverage, although his playing career has continued uninterrupted while the legal proceedings remain separate from his on-court activities.
Hapoel continue shaping their roster
Blakeney’s extension represents another important piece of Hapoel Tel Aviv’s offseason strategy as the club prepares for its second consecutive EuroLeague campaign.
So far this summer, Hapoel Tel Aviv have also extended the contracts of Tai Odiase and Ish Wainright, while former NBA forward Amir Coffey has become the club’s first official signing of the offseason.
The club has already seen several departures, with Chris Jones joining Crvena Zvezda, while Levi Randolph, Kessler Edwards and Yam Madar have also left the team.
The Israeli side is expected to remain active in the transfer market, with Zach LeDay and Tamir Blatt both heavily linked with moves to the club.
Meanwhile, the future of Johnathan Motley remains unresolved after the expiration of his contract, with no official decision yet made regarding whether the star big man will remain in Tel Aviv for another season. All Hapoel Tel Aviv roster moves can be followed on the EuroLeague Transactions tracker.
