Is Hapoel Tel Aviv going to be new home of Russell Westbrook? European basketball insider spilled beans on ongoing rumors

Is Hapoel Tel Aviv going to be new home of Russell Westbrook? European basketball insider spilled beans on ongoing rumors (Image Credit: Getty Images)
European Basketball reporter Nemanja Zoric shared a fresh update on the rumored offer made to the Denver Nuggets' Russell Westbrook by Hapoel Tel Aviv. He shared that initial talks are on between the European football club and the Nuggets' guard.
And the interest is not one-sided; Russell is also sending positive vibes by picking up the phone and actively participating in starting discussions. On X, Nemanja Zoric wrote:
'Hapoel Tel Aviv has made initial contact with former NBA All Star Russell Westbrook.
Im told the Eurocup champions are planning to make him an offer with a salary never seen before in European basketball.'
Is Hapoel Tel Aviv going to be new home of Russell Westbrook? European basketball insider spilled beans on ongoing rumors (Image Credit: Getty Images)
The high point of this impending association is the salary.
It is being speculated that the deal offered to the Denver Nuggets' star is too good to refuse and will be a ground-breaking figure.
Russell Westbrook is at a stage where he should be exploring new opportunities. He is almost at the end of his NBA career with only one year of the contract with the Denver Nuggets remaining in hand. Hence, the rumors around the new offer coming his way are definitely good news for him and his fans.
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But, is the new offer really lucrative, or is it just that Russell wants to test new waters? The question is roaming around a lot because of the fact that European players are not paid as lucratively as NBA players are. For instance, the NBA veterans' highest salary is $10 million, while Stephen Curry reportedly takes home $56 million from his NBA contract. But in European Basketball, the only talk-worthy package is that of Nikola Mirotic, who made news with his three-year, $29-million contract with Barcelona.
It was the highest package in European Basketball.
How much money is Russell Westbrook making currently?
Russell Westbrook has a player option in his contract with the NBA, and his 2025-26 season will fetch him $3,468,960. To be ready to make a move to a European franchise, the pay package offered is expected to be mammoth. However, the player at 37 may need to make some adjustments as regards to salary to arrive at a feasible proposition.
Russell has investments in US ventures and also takes home millions from endorsement deals with top brands like Nike, Samsung, and Pepsi.
He is a part investor in a pizza chain and is associated with the clothing line 'Honor the Gift.' All these associations and investments have helped him build an estimated net worth of $300 million as of May 2025, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Also Read:
Denver Nuggets Point Guard Russell Westbrook's sweet gesture for a South Korean NBA fan wins heart
Hence, Westbrook's going to Europe to be a part of a new team will make sense only when the offer is gigantic enough to match the income he generates as an NBA player. Back home in the NBA, he is yet to win a title, and with ongoing reformations in the team, a player may have a chance at it, should he choose to hang up his cleats as a Denver Nuggets player.

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