Hapoel Jerusalem welcomed a pair of new players at Ben Gurion Airport as Shake Milton and Devontae Cacok landed in Israel for the 2026-27 season. Head Coach Sasa Obradovic has brought in many new players and the two 29-yeard olds offer yet another aspect to the club.

Milton featured in close to 400 NBA games starring for the Philadelphia 76ers while also having played with Lebron James on the Los Angeles Lakers. Last season was his first overseas with Partizan Belgrade and brings a wealth of incredible experience to the Reds.

“I’m excited to be here,” Milton began. “Excited to be a part of this team and be a part of these fans who are already showing their love and their passion for us. So that just makes you want to get out there and play hard for them. So I’m excited.”

“Coach told me that we’re just looking to be a really competitive group, win a lot of games hopefully win the EuroCup. So that’s everybody’s goal and I think if everybody has the same goal, we’re in a good position.”

The guard explained is feelings about the challenge ahead, “I feel like just going to Europe, I was able to just see it firsthand. I feel like anytime you’re able to see it and experience it, the next time you’re able to make adjustments and know what you need to work on and feel good, man. I feel motivated. I’m confident and I’m excited to be a part of the team and be around the guys. So I’m ready.”

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— Sports Rabbi (@thesportsrabbi) August 17, 2026

As for players Milton was in contact with, there was plenty of options, “I talked to Jared Harper a little bit. That was good, man. But we were just excited to be around. I know Kenny Lofton and how dominant of a player he can be and how much of a mismatch he is as well. But I think when we get to practicing and get around the guys, I think we can really start to build some cohesion.”

Milton is looking forward to getting to know the city of Jerusalem, “I’m going to try to go explore and go see around and hopefully get some good food and maybe I’ll get some of the guys to come with me and show me around a little bit. So that’s the plan.”

Devontae Cacok may have only played 36 games in the NBA and won the championship with the Lakers back in 2020, but he has also been playing in Europe since 2023 and brings plenty of know how to the court.

“I feel good and I’m just happy to finally be here and get everything going. I feel like the team that we have, the roster we have is very good. But like every great thing, it takes time. Once we build the chemistry, I feel like we’ll be able to do a lot of great things this year and as you all know we have high expectations. So as long as we just take it game by game, do what we got to do and have fun, we can do a lot of things this year.”

While his time in the NBA was limited, it allowed him to pick up plenty of tips and ideas, “It helps a lot. Being there for a couple of years, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve been around a lot of great players. Just from being around them, I’ve learned so much. I definitely want to help as much as I can with what I know, even playing in Europe as well, just to help us win and do a lot of great things.”

As for coming together as a team, Cacok spoke to one of the new recruits who has also joined coach Obradovic as Jerusalem looks to put together a special season, “I spoke to a couple of people that I know personally and also obviously some of my new teammates as well. I’m just trying to build that chemistry and some people I actually knew before, Jaleen Smith, we played together at Bologna. So me and our families, we already knew each other.”