Hapoel “Midtown” Jerusalem is pleased to announce the signing of Kenneth (Kenny) Lofton Jr. The American forward/center (23 years old, 1.98m) has agreed to a contract that will run through the end of the 2026/27 season.
Lofton Jr. joins Hapoel after gaining experience in the NBA, G League and Chinese league. He began his professional career in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies, before also playing for the Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz. Across two seasons in the NBA, he made 49 appearances, with his best performance coming in April 2023, when he scored 42 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in his first start for Memphis against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
At the same time, Lofton Jr. established himself as one of the top players in the G League. During the 2022/23 season, he was named Rookie of the Year while playing for the Memphis Hustle, and he was selected to the All-G League First Team twice during his two seasons in the competition. In 51 games, he averaged 23.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
In October 2024, he moved to China and signed with the Shanghai Sharks, becoming one of the biggest stars in the league. In his first season, he earned the Chinese League MVP award after averaging 24.4 points, 12.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. Last season, he also helped Shanghai win the championship.
Lofton Jr. was also one of the stars of the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, leading the United States national team to a gold medal. His performance in the final against France was one of the most memorable moments of the tournament.
The new Hapoel player shared his excitement about the move: “I’m happy to join Hapoel Jerusalem and begin my journey in European basketball. From the first moment, I was impressed by the club’s high ambitions, and I want to thank coach Sasha Obradović and the management for the trust they have shown in me. I’m already looking forward to arriving in Jerusalem, meeting the fans, getting to know my new teammates and fighting in every game for this club. Yalla Hapoel!”
Head coach Sasha Obradović also welcomed the signing: “Kenny is a player with a rare combination of power, talent and the ability to impact the game. He will bring us a significant presence in the paint, rebounding strength and versatile offensive skills. He has proven himself at every stop throughout his career, and we are confident he will add important quality on both ends of the floor. We are delighted that he is joining Hapoel.”
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