The French forward arrives from rival Hapoel Tel Aviv
Maccabi lands explosive big man Jaylen Hoard
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv bolstered its frontcourt with the signing of forward Jaylen Hoard on a two-year contract. Hoard (2.04 meters, 25 years old) arrives from crosstown rival Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, where he spent the last two seasons. He comes off a monster season in which he was sixth in the EuroCup in scoring with 16.1 points per game and eighth in PIR with 18.8. He also produced 5.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks in his 14 appearances.
“We are delighted to add Jaylen Hoard to our team," head coach Oded Kattash told Maccabi’s official website. “He is a versatile player who made big progress in the Israeli league and the EuroCup. He will fit in with the team that we are building and will help us achieve our goals in the league and in Europe.”
"I am very honored to join the EuroLeague with Maccabi Tel Aviv, a club with a rich history and remarkable accomplishments," said Hoard. “I want to thank the entire organization for making this possible. I will continue to work hard to perform at the highest level and contribute to the team's success. See you all soon!"
A native of France, Hoard spent one year playing college basketball in the United States for Wake Forest University. After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, he played for the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA and Texas in the G League.
Hoard then signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in December 2020, where he spent the next season and a half. Hoard averaged 14.7 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Thunder in seven games during the 2021-22 campaign, after which he signed for Hapoel.