David Roddy on Joining Hapoel Jerusalem: 'An exciting project'

David Roddy joined Hapoel Jerusalem this summer after four seasons in the NBA, where he moved between several teams without finding a consistent role. The 25-year-old forward, who was selected 23rd overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, appeared on the “Euro Insiders” podcast and discussed his decision to leave the United States, the disappointments he experienced in the world's top basketball league, his new teammates in Jerusalem, and the team's lofty ambitions despite not competing in the EuroLeague.

“Hapoel reached out to me early on and expressed interest,” Roddy said, recalling how his relationship with the Reds began. “Before that, there had been a few conversations with my agent about teams that were interested in me in the EuroLeague and Europe in general, but at that point, my goal was still the NBA. I didn't want to give anyone false hope or waste their time. As the summer went on, I started to realize that I probably wasn't going to get a free-agent offer, so I decided to try to find a team in Europe.”

Roddy also explained what convinced him to make the move to Israel: “Hapoel was one of the first teams to reach out to me and show genuine interest. The team is moving in a great direction. It's a very interesting project, and the EuroCup is a competitive competition. It's an exciting opportunity, with a new coach and new players, hopefully to win the EuroCup and qualify for the EuroLeague.”

Asked whether he still hopes to return to the NBA, Roddy said: “Right now, I'm just trying to do the best I can. For years, I was focused on thinking about the next place I wanted to get to instead of concentrating on where I was. Now I want to focus on the present and become a better basketball player. I think that at Hapoel Jerusalem and in the EuroCup, I'll be able to reach my full potential. If an opportunity to return to the NBA comes along down the road, I'll certainly consider it, but right now, I'm focused on where I am.”

Roddy also made no secret of Hapoel Jerusalem's ambitions for the season: “The goal is to win everything. Win every trophy, win the EuroCup and qualify for the EuroLeague. That's the plan, and that's why we're all here. Matan, Dan and coach Sasha believed in us and believed in me, that we could help the team win and take the next step. That's why we came.”

One of Roddy's familiar faces in Jerusalem is Kenneth Lofton Jr., his former teammate with the Memphis Grizzlies. The two are now playing together again in Israel. “It was great playing with him. He's an incredible talent. I also played against him in college, and he's just impossible to guard. People don't understand how strong he is. He's very strong, has great skills and is an excellent passer, especially around the free-throw line. He's also a very competitive player. He's exactly the kind of player you want on your team.”

Having played exclusively in the United States until now, Roddy is adjusting to a new basketball culture in Israel and Europe. “A lot of young Americans never come to Europe at all, and they have no idea how things work here or how teams in the EuroLeague and EuroCup operate. I'm treating this as an experience and trying to watch as many games as possible to understand basketball here. That's probably the quarterback mentality in me. The fans here are amazing, and the support is incredible. It's very different from the United States. You have to enjoy these things.”

Reflecting on the most challenging period of his career, Roddy said: “The last two years were probably the hardest, but I also learned the most from them. I moved from team to team and didn't get what I wanted or felt I deserved. As long as I'm playing basketball, it doesn't really matter to me where I am. Of course, doubts creep in sometimes, but you have to keep working and understand that you don't control the teams' decisions. You can control how you respond and how you move forward.”