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jul 26 2026Kenny Lofton Jr. will play for Hapoel Jerusalem. The American center joins the Israeli club after his stint in Chinese basketball, where he competed last season with the Shanghai Sharks.
Lofton Jr., 23, is a very particular profile: a strong, powerful center near the basket with a good touch for scoring and the ability to generate offense from the post. He is not the classic vertical center, but rather a player with a lot of physicality, good hands, and offensive resources.
In the 2025/26 season with Shanghai Sharks, he averaged 13.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 35 games, shooting 54.9% from the field and 33.7% from three-point range. A year earlier, also in China, he had posted much more impressive numbers: 25.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game.
Before his time in Asia, Lofton Jr. played in the NBA, where he wore the jerseys of the Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers, and Utah Jazz. He also made an impact in the G League, particularly for his ability to produce a lot in limited minutes.
For Hapoel Jerusalem, his arrival means adding a center with scoring ability, physicality, and an offensive basketball IQ that is uncommon for his position. If he can adapt to the European pace and improve on the defensive end, he could be a game-changing piece due to his talent and production.
