The German club responds to injury setback with a proven EuroCup performer
J.P. Tokoto joins Hamburg on 3-month deal
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Veolia Towers Hamburg have made a swift move to reinforce their roster, signing JP Tokoto to a short-term contract. The American forward steps into the role that was vacated by Niklas Wimberg, when he suffered a broken finger.
Tokoto (2.01 meters, 31 years old) joins the team for an initial three-month stint, arriving in Hamburg on Friday and expected to travel with the squad to training camp after completing his medical exams. He spent the last seven seasons in Israel, most recently with Hapoel Afula. Last season he posted 14.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals for a PIR of 15.9 in 32 Israeli League games.
A familiar face to EuroCup fans, Tokoto was part of the Hapoel Tel Aviv squad that faced Hamburg twice in the 2022-23 season. He averaged 10.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals for a PIR of 16.5 in those games, in which the teams each won at home.
"I’m very happy we could react quickly to Niklas’s injury by signing JP. We know him from the EuroCup. He brings experience, physicality, and pressure on the rim – all things we need right now."
After playing college basketball at the University of North Carolina, Tokoto was selected 58th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. He began his professional career in the G League with the Oklahoma City Blue and then the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Tokoto spent the 2017-18 campaign in Australia with the Perth Wildcats before first signing in Israel with Hapoel Eilat.
He split the 2019-20 season between San Pablo Burgos in Spain and Ness Ziona in Israel. Then came three seasons with Hapoel Tel Aviv, another with Maccabi Ramat Gan and last season with Afula.
With his arrival, Tokoto adds a new layer to Hamburg’s frontcourt – and this time, the cheers at Inselpark Arena will be for him.