Jasiel Rivero joined Maccabi Tel Aviv for the 2023/24 as the Cuban forward-center made his Euroleague debut last season with Valencia. The 29-year old spent the past four seasons in the ACB League in Spain, while averaging about 20 minutes per game for Valencia in the past two years.

Rivero began his pro basketball journey with the local Capitalinos de La Habana and also played with Estudiantes de Concordia and Boca Juniors before moving to Europe. In 2018, the big man played with San Pablo Burgos from Spain and scored 12.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in his second season while also helping the team to back-to-back BCL titles while being chosen to the second-team all-BCL and second-team all-ACB.

He joined Valencia in 2021 and scored 12.6 points while grabbing 4.4 rebounds per game in the EuroCup en route to a semi finals appearance. This past season, his first in the EuroLeague, the Cuban big averaged 9.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while in the domestic league he scored 11.7 points while shooting 44% from deep, along with 4.2 rebounds per game.

“Jasiel Rivero is a proven and experienced EuroLeague player,” Maccabi Head Coach Oded Katash said. “He is versatile and can play both the 4 and 5 positions. He is a player that can bring us more toughness.”

“I am super happy and excited to have this new opportunity,” Rivero told the club’s official website. “We want to have lots of success and good things with this big project. I can’t wait to arrive and join this family. To our fans – enjoy this season and we will give everything we have on the court.”

To learn more about Rivero, The Sports Rabbi was in touch with a number of his former teammates:

Capitalinos Teammate Rodrigo Carvidon: When I played with him, he was very young and it was his first team out of Cuba. I remember him as a good guy first of all, always Laughing. He has improved his body and skills. I think he is stronger now. He is fast to be a PF, has good skills with the ball. He can drive as a SF, I think that it’s a big advantage against others big men. He is an experienced player. He has been playing in Spain (I think that the league in Spain is the best in the FIBA World) in very good level. Also he showed his level in Cuba’s national team. I’m very happy with his improvement and his career. He can run the court and can shot from middle or 3 point.

Estudiantes Concordia teammates:
Sebastian Uranga: Jasiel is a very powerful and versatile player who adds more resources to his game every year. As a partner he is ideal, always positive, always a winner. But the best thing he has is his person, you will love him!

Dar Tucker: I think Jasiel is a good player that can play multiple positions and also play well on both sides of the court. When I played with him he was young but throughout the years he has become one of the best players in Europe for sure

Santiago Cuelho: Jasiel was not just a teammate for me, he was a big brother. Jasiel an excellent player and person, I just can say good things about him.

Ivan Catani: He is a great person, and very, very HUMBLE.

Ariel Eslava: Jasiel is a great player. Versatile, he has facility to score and run the field, in defense he can defend different positions, from the first moment I was lucky enough to see him several years ago in 2016 I had no doubt that he would be a great player, he is a great person who wants to keep improving, I always wish him the best.

Boca Juniors Teammates:
Alex Galindo: Hell of a player. Amazing human being. Great locker room guy. He’s willing to work and learn everyday. I believe we have not seen the best of him yet. Great pick up.

Tomas Pereyra: He is a very good person and teammate. As a player he has everything. He can shoot, play on the low post, run the court, shoot 3p, he is a complete player. When I played with him on Boca he taught me a lot of things because I play as a 4 like him. I think he’s gonna have a good season.

Burgos Teammate Dejan Kravic: Jasiel is an absolute beast! A very dominant player in the post and one of the strongest players I’ve played against. He can play both the 4 & 5 positions and can do a little bit of everything. Off the court he is a fun person to be around and he has the most swagger of any teammate I’ve had.

Cuban National team teammate Pedro Roque: Rivero is a very versatile player who is very explosive in the inside game, very strong on the boards and with a good shot from distances, a super comprehensive player in all senses, both sports and socially.