Blakeney penned a new deal until the end of the 2026-27 season
Hapoel, Blakeney agree to contract extension
Artikel
3 Lesezeit
Antonio Blakeney is set to keep playing for Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv until the end of the 2026-27 season, the club announced Tuesday. Blakeney (1.93 meters, 28 years old) played a key role for Hapoel in the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup, averaging 13.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and a PIR of 12.2 in 17 games, to help the team lift win EuroCup trophy.
The first-year guard played a critical role in Hapoel's most important games. Blakeney had 32 points and 9 rebounds in Game 3 of the semifinals on the road against Valencia Basket, hitting five three-pointers in the fourth quarter to lead Hapoel to a go-ahead 92-94 win. He also shined in the 2025 EuroCup Finals against Dreamland Gran Canaria, averaging 22.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and a PIR of 23.5 in two games.
Blakeney started his professional career with Chicago of the NBA, and also played for Windy City and Canton of the G League, Jiangsu Nangang Dragons Nanjing and Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings of China, Al-Ahli Manama of Bahrein, and Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Shave of Israel before joining Hapoel.
"I am very happy and grateful for the opportunity to sign with Hapoel Tel Aviv for two more seasons. I would like to thank the team's owner Ofer Yannay, the management and the professional team for their trust and support in me," Blakeney say after the agreement. "I feel at home here in Tel Aviv. I look forward to continuing to help the team reach great achievements. I am aware that there is still a lot of work ahead of us – both this season and the seasons to come – and I will give it my all, together with my teammates and the professional team. A huge thank you to all the fans for your incredible support!"
"We are very happy, both personally and as the Hapoel Tel Aviv club, that Antonio is continuing with us. In my opinion, AB is a symbol of shared growth - both of the club and of him as a player. Antonio joined us with little experience in European basketball, and since then he has developed and become one of the team's important players - just as Hapoel Tel Aviv as a club is growing and growing among the prominent clubs in the Euroleague", Hapoel head coach Dimitris Itoudis said. "We hope that he will continue to remain healthy, determined and focused, with the goal of continuing to improve and display high and consistent ability."