Israeli basketball side Hapoel Tel Aviv have announced the signing of American-Nigerian basketball center Daniel Oturu on a lucrative three-year deal that sees him become one of the highest earners on the continent.
The EuroLeague newcomers announced the signing of the former Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls star on Sunday, weeks after the announcement had been expected.
Daniel Oturu last played for Turkish side Anadolu Efes where he led them to the semi-finals of the Turkish Basketbol Super Ligi. He started his sojourn in Europe with Turkish side Merkez Pandi in the 2023/24 season.
In ten games for the club, he raveraged 20.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 65.2% from the field. His impressive performance led him to signing with Anadolu where he played two seasons.
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Last season, Oturu was one of the most effective players in the EuroLeague. He averaged 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 71.3 two-point shooting in 16.5 minutes per game. In the Turkish League, he averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, and 70.0 two-point shooting in 22.5 minutes.
Reacting to joining Hapoel Tel Aviv, Oturu says he is excited to join the roster and can’t wait to get on the court. He is also delighted to be one of the first players to play in the team’s EuroLeague debut next season.
“I am excited to join Hapoel Tel Aviv – a club with a vision and goal to succeed on the biggest stage in Europe,” Oturu said in a statement.
“I can’t wait to play for the great fans who support the team with dedication. It will be a privilege to be part of the team in its first season in the EuroLeague. I can’t wait to get started. Come on Hapoel!”
Team coach, Dimitris Itoudis said, “Daniel is a center who comes with a huge motivation to develop within an excellent team.
“He is expected to contribute a lot to us on both sides of the court – both in defense and offense – thanks to his impressive athleticism, explosive power, passion for the game, and the fact that he is able to be both a secondary creator and a main creator, an effective finisher in the paint, and a defender at the highest level. We welcome him to Hapoel Tel Aviv.”
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