Hapoel Jerusalem steps closer to permanent EuroLeague spot

License bid advances as EuroLeague eyes major reform

Hapoel Jerusalem has announced that its application for a permanent EuroLeague franchise has progressed to the next stage. The move comes as the EuroLeague prepares one of the biggest structural changes in its history, with a limited number of long-term licenses expected to be granted for the 2027–28 season.

If selected, a long-term franchise license would be a landmark achievement for the club, securing consistent top-level competition and raising its profile across Europe. Success in the selection process would also make Hapoel Jerusalem Israel’s third representative at the highest tier of European club basketball, joining the ranks of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Big signings and a new coach underline serious ambitions

The club has been busy off the court as well, investing both in facilities and the playing roster. This summer they appointed experienced coach Sasa Obradovic and overhauled the squad with several notable additions who bring NBA and EuroLeague experience. Key arrivals include Shake Milton, Kenneth Lofton Jr., David Roddy and Jaleen Smith, among others.

Those moves have left many observers calling Hapoel Jerusalem one of the favorites in next season’s EuroCup, a competition that could serve as a springboard into permanent EuroLeague membership. The club says it will keep pushing hard through the remainder of the selection process, with the clear aim of becoming a mainstay on Europe’s biggest stage.