Hapoel Tel Aviv owner Ofer Yannay believes European basketball is approaching a defining moment. The decisions surrounding EuroLeague expansion, franchise licenses and broadcasting revenues could fundamentally change the competition’s economics. But the Israeli businessman is equally interested in the transfer market, the increasingly influential role of club owners and the battle for supremacy between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos.
In an interview with Sportal, Yannay outlined an ambitious vision for the EuroLeague, discussed the possibility of an NBA takeover, revealed his interest in Tyler Dorsey and explained how Dimitris Giannakopoulos beat him to Nigel Hayes-Davis.
He also addressed his relationship with Dimitris Itoudis, negotiations involving NBA players, his unusual approach to Dennis Rodman and the public disagreements that have made him one of European basketball’s most outspoken owners.
A 30-team EuroLeague and a billion-dollar broadcasting deal
Asked which reforms he would prioritize, Yannay identified three: increasing broadcasting revenues, expanding the competition and fundamentally reconsidering the relationship between EuroLeague clubs and domestic leagues.
“The first goal is to increase revenue from broadcasting rights and find a way out of the current agreement with IMG, even before 2029,” he explained.
“The Japanese league’s broadcasting deal is worth $400 million. So what should the EuroLeague deal be worth? Probably at least a billion.”
His expansion plans are similarly ambitious.
“Second, EuroLeague needs to expand to 24 teams and establish a path towards 30 teams within the next five years.”
Yannay believes such a roadmap would encourage investment in established clubs, identifying PAOK and Aris as two particularly interesting Greek projects. He also mentioned Abu Dhabi and potential clubs in Rome.
His third proposal is arguably the most controversial: domestic competitions could gradually assume a developmental role, with EuroLeague teams prioritizing higher-level continental fixtures.
“The domestic league would serve local players more, helping them develop their talent,” he suggested, also raising the possibility of regional competitions.
NBA Europe, $10 billion and the franchise question
Despite his confidence in the EuroLeague’s commercial potential, Yannay admitted that Hapoel has received no guarantees regarding a permanent license.
“Zero,” he answered when asked what assurances the club had obtained.
He welcomed the EuroLeague clubs’ decision to pursue an independent future rather than join forces with the NBA, but questioned whether that position would survive a sufficiently attractive financial offer.
“Maybe Adam Silver will come up with a bigger amount, I don’t know, $10 billion to buy the EuroLeague. Do you think they could refuse that? I’m not sure.”
The figure was a hypothetical scenario, not a reported offer.
Yannay also questioned whether European clubs could replicate NBA franchise valuations without the same commercial structure and tax advantages.
He pointed to the extraordinary rise in NBA team valuations, citing the Golden State Warriors as an example, while emphasizing that European basketball needs a more stable franchise system and substantially stronger revenues.
“It’s the first time the EuroLeague is treating itself as a business,” he argued.
He expressed greater optimism about CEO Chus Bueno, although he insisted that tangible progress would matter more than promises.
“For me, actions speak louder than words. The first step will be granting the first franchise licenses.”
“There’s a very good chance Dorsey ends up at Hapoel”
Perhaps Yannay’s most striking transfer prediction concerned Olympiacos guard Tyler Dorsey.
“I actually believe there’s a very good chance Dorsey ends up at Hapoel.”
He explained that Olympiacos could face a difficult situation if the player reached the summer without signing an extension, potentially attracting interest from Greek rivals.
“The nightmare scenario for the Angelopoulos brothers is reaching the summer without an extension and then having a bidding war for his services. God forbid, he could end up at Panathinaikos or PAOK.”
Yannay suggested that an overseas transfer could represent a strategic alternative for Olympiacos.
However, he stressed that Hapoel would not approach the player without respecting his existing club.
“We will work with Olympiacos. If they’re willing to consider it, we’d be happy to do so.”
How Giannakopoulos won the Hayes-Davis battle
Yannay was equally candid about losing Nigel Hayes-Davis to Panathinaikos.
“I lost that battle to Mr. Giannakopoulos. He beat me to it.”
According to the Hapoel owner, the decisive factor was not necessarily money.
“I think they made a better presentation. I did something at the last minute. I personally called Nigel and actually managed to change his mind.”
But Giannakopoulos had already publicly announced the deal.
“Mr. Giannakopoulos went online. He understood something was happening. He called Nigel and said, ‘Hey, I just went online. You can’t embarrass me.’”
Yannay identified that intervention as the turning point.
Despite the disappointment, he praised both the player and the Panathinaikos owner.
“Every team would be lucky to have him. And it’s a privilege to be in the same competition as Mr. Giannakopoulos.”
Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and the importance of roster construction
Yannay also offered a clear prediction regarding Greek basketball’s biggest rivalry.
He considers Sasha Vezenkov Olympiacos’ greatest advantage, but believes Panathinaikos has assembled its roster specifically to counter that strength.
“You have Yabusele, Nigel Hayes-Davis and Hernangomez. Three excellent players at the four. I believe they’ll beat Olympiacos this year because of that structure.”
He also described Sylvain Francisco’s arrival at Panathinaikos as an unexpected opportunity created by ASVEL’s financial problems, which he linked to the failure of anticipated funding from Qatar.
Yannay praised Giannakopoulos for combining passion with strategic thinking, while ranking Hapoel behind the two Greek clubs in roster quality.
“I think that after the two Greek teams, we’re third in terms of roster quality. Not cost, but quality.”
NBA recruitment, Russell and the Rodman experiment
Hapoel’s willingness to spend has inevitably connected the club with established NBA names.
Yannay confirmed that agents encouraged him to make an offer for D’Angelo Russell, but said he refused to proceed without first speaking directly to the player.
“If a player just wants to make money, I don’t want him on my team. I want someone who has a passion for winning.”
That conversation never materialized, and Hapoel did not make an offer.
He nevertheless believes European clubs are becoming increasingly competitive financially, particularly because salaries are generally discussed on a net basis.
According to his calculations, the EuroLeague contracts of Kendrick Nunn and Vezenkov could be comparable to NBA gross salaries of $12–15 million.
His most unconventional recruitment idea involved Dennis Rodman.
Yannay confirmed discussions over a reported $100,000 arrangement for the former Chicago Bulls star to teach Hapoel’s players rebounding.
“We had long discussions with his agent, and at some point he said, ‘Okay, I want to do it.’”
Passport complications prevented the visit before the season, but Yannay said the possibility remained open.
Itoudis, Ataman and the personalities behind the game
Yannay’s relationship with Dimitris Itoudis began at the 2024 Berlin Final Four, where he said he paid €150,000 for a EuroLeague sponsorship arrangement that helped him meet influential basketball figures.
He described Itoudis as an exceptional tactician, particularly in game preparation, while acknowledging his stubbornness.
Asked about the coach’s biggest weakness, he joked: “He doesn’t understand my humor.”
His comments about Ergin Ataman were equally revealing.
Although the two have exchanged public criticism, Yannay insisted that he respects the Panathinaikos coach.
“I respect coach Ataman enormously. Maybe one day he’ll become Hapoel’s coach.”
He also discussed his social-media exchanges with Walter Tavares and Pedro Martinez, saying that he now considers Martinez a friend.
The Hapoel owner revisited the Jonathan Motley dispute with Red Star, describing how he threatened to recruit players from the Serbian club and send them to Partizan as a pressure tactic.
His underlying position was straightforward: “If you’ve made an agreement, you have to honor it.”
The business behind the ambition
Although Yannay has stepped back from Hapoel’s day-to-day operations to concentrate on his business responsibilities, he remains involved in transfers and budgets.
He also supports giving players equity stakes, arguing that ownership participation aligns their interests with the organization and may offer tax advantages.
Ultimately, his vision for European basketball depends on the same principle driving Hapoel’s ambitions: stability creates commercial value.
Asked whether clubs such as Panathinaikos could become billion-dollar businesses, he returned to the franchise question.
“The only thing that needs to happen is to secure stability in the EuroLeague regarding the structure of the teams. Then we move on to valuing the revenues.”