This Thursday, Israeli club Hapoel Tel-Aviv announced the signing of Jaylen Hoard for the 2022-23 season. Fantastic news for the one whose room for improvement forced the move away from American soil. Such raw talent cannot be kept as a thirteenth option, let alone locked in a trunk with all the G League bric-a-brac.
It’s a bit funny. Called up at the end of last season with the Thunder’s flag team – from April 5 to 10, 2022 – Jaylen Hoard took the opportunity to put down four great performances: 24 points and 21 rebounds for the reception of the Blazers, 23 points in Utah, 27 points and 17 rebounds once morest the Lakers, 14 points and 15 rebounds once morest the Clippers. Why “funny” ? After this big statistical series, the Thunder did not follow up on his ten-day contract and left him free. Have we ever seen a 23-year-old player leave the NBA on a four-game streak with 22 points and 14.5 rebounds on average? Not sure. Before signing this last ten-day contract, Jaylen Hoard spent the season in the G League with the Oklahoma City Blue. He played 25 games, including 15 as a starter, for averages of 11 points at 54% shooting, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists. His room for improvement? A nasty 11% at 3-points, which prevents him from compensating for his short size (2m03) by stretching. This is – in our opinion – what best explains his departure from the NBA. A not crazy outside shot at 20, that’s fine. A not crazy outside shot at 23 years old, it starts to reduce the prospects for the future in front of a competition that knows how to do everything.
“In the short time with us, Jaylen has proven himself to be a quality and talented player. We are happy with the ability he has shown in friendlies during pre-season and I am happy that he is staying with us for the challenges ahead in the EuroCup and in the league. – Danny Franco, Hapoel Tel Aviv coach
Hapoel Wigan Friendly TA »A basketball club announces the signing of Jaylen Hurd (23, 2.03), in the team until the end of the season!
For the full message -> https://t.co/xZ1CmWmMIR pic.twitter.com/C5m99TttEs
— Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) September 15, 2022
The caliber of Hapoel Tel-Aviv? A strong EuroCup squad that also counts Chris Horton et Tomer Ginat in its ranks, two well-known interiors of the Betclic Elite. Jaylen Hoard’s projected playing time? We don’t spend our nights under Danny Franco’s bed, but you can imagine that a 23-year-old player who has 24 points and 21 rebounds in the NBA is probably in high demand in Europe. Again, it’s ugly speculation, but the former Wake Forest had to commit there with certain promises like… a starting status? The opposite would in any case be surprising. Date to be highlighted in red, France will have the opportunity to see him at work on October 19, at the Georges Carpentier hall, as part of the reception of Hapoel Tel Aviv by Paris Basket in the EuroCup. The opportunity for Jaylen Hoard to rub shoulders with Ismael Kamagate, Dustin Sleva or even Aamir Simms: well-received oppositions that will punctuate his European season, just to come back – if he wants – even stronger with the cainris.
Good news for the French international window edition team, Jaylen Hoard is packing his bags at Hapoel Tel-Aviv to garner a little stability and a lot of playing time, in order to perfect an offensive palette that is still too small.