According to Buzz Sport sources, T.J. Leaf is expected to sign a contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv, with the deal finalizing for the 2025-26 season. The 28-year-old American forward, who spent the last four years with the Nanjing Monkey King in the Chinese Basketball Association, is set to return to the EuroLeague, where Maccabi previously showed interest in him as early as 2022.
Experience and Fit
Leaf, a 2.08m power forward, brings NBA and international experience, having been selected as the No. 18 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers, as noted on Wikipedia. In the 2023-24 season with Nanjing, he averaged 16.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. His size and scoring ability will bolster Maccabi’s frontcourt, complementing their roster as they compete in the expanded 20-team EuroLeague.
Maccabi’s Ambitions
Maccabi Tel Aviv, known for their six EuroLeague titles and storied history, aims to leverage Leaf’s addition to strengthen their squad. With recent moves like targeting Jaylen Hoard as an alternative for Real Madrid, per Encestando.es, Maccabi continues to build a competitive team for the Israeli Basketball Premier League and EuroLeague, aiming to reclaim their dominance in European basketball.
Posted on: 29 May 2025, 23:15 CET
