Wenyen Gabriel signs with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel

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Wenyen Gabriel warms up prior to the game - Erik Williams, USA TODAY Sports

It’s a big month for Wenyen Gabriel. Not only will the former Kentucky Wildcat represent South Sudan in the Olympics, he just joined one of the best basketball clubs in Europe. Gabriel signed a deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel that will run through the end of the 2024-25 season with the option to extend for another year.

Gabriel spent last season with Vaqueros de Bayamón in Puerto Rico, averaging 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. Prior to that, he spent five seasons in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and various G League squads. In total, he played in 150 NBA games, averaging 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest.

Over two seasons at Kentucky (2016-18), Gabriel averaged 5.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. He was one of the stars of Kentucky’s 2018 SEC Tournament title run, hitting seven threes to lead the Cats past Alabama in the SEC Tournament semifinals. His 7-7 mark from the outside was a program and SEC Tournament record for most threes without a miss.

“I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to join such a historic organization,” Gabriel said in a press release. “I can’t wait to bring my passion to Tel Aviv and the Euroleague and meet the famous fanbase. I can say that I feel at home wearing the yellow jersey.”

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Maccabi Tel Aviv plays in the Israeli Basketball Premier League and internationally in the EuroLeague. “The Yellows” have six Euroleague titles to their name, one Adriatic League championship, and 57 Israeli Basketball Premier League championships.

“Gabriel is a player with NBA experience, with diverse abilities and a big upside,” Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Oded Kattash said. “A player in position five who can also play away from the paint, knows how to finish near the rim, and has a defensive presence. He will help us and give us a lot of energy. I am sure that the connection to the crowd will be quick and that the fans will enjoy a lot.”

Before going to Tel Aviv, Gabriel will play for his native South Sudan in the Paris Olympics. He joined the national team in 2023 for the FIBA World Cup and averaged 9.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, an event-high 2.6 blocks, and 1.2 assists over five games. Gabriel will face three fellow former Kentucky Wildcats when South Sudan takes on Team USA in the USA Basketball Showcase on July 20 (3:00 PM ET, FOX) and the Olympics on July 31 (3:00 PM ET, NBC).