In a stunning development shaking up the European basketball scene, Serbian star Vasilije Micic is reportedly on the verge of signing a massive $5 million per season contract with Hapoel Tel Aviv, according to multiple sources. The former EuroLeague MVP and two-time Final Four MVP is set to leave the NBA after two seasons of limited minutes with the Charlotte Hornets and Phoenix Suns, where he averaged just 4.4 minutes in his last stint with Phoenix
Hapoel Tel Aviv, fresh off their EuroCup championship and poised to join the EuroLeague next season, is making a bold statement with this move. The Israeli club, backed by ambitious owner Ofer Yannay, is building a superteam to compete at Europe’s highest level, with Micic as the cornerstone. The reported $5 million deal (approximately €4.5 million net) would make Micic one of the highest-paid players in European basketball history, a testament to Hapoel’s financial muscle and determination to challenge traditional powerhouses.
Micic’s return to Europe has sparked a frenzy in the point guard market, with clubs like Anadolu Efes and Panathinaikos now forced to pivot to other targets, such as TJ Shorts, to fill their rosters. This move not only elevates Hapoel’s status but also sets off a chain reaction across the EuroLeague transfer landscape.
