JERUSALEM, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Israeli EuroLeague basketball club Maccabi Tel Aviv on Sunday announced the signing of power forward-center T.J. Leaf, a former NBA and Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) player.

The 28-year-old American-Israeli signed a three-year contract with Maccabi. He played college basketball at UCLA and was selected 18th overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Leaf spent three seasons with Indiana and one with the Portland Trail Blazers, appearing in 146 NBA regular-season games and averaging 3.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.3 assists. He also played in five NBA playoff games.

He moved to China in early 2022, where he played for the Guangzhou Loong Lions, Beijing Ducks, and Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings. Across 142 CBA games, Leaf averaged 19.0 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. In his most recent season with Nanjing, he ranked third in total rebounds, fourth in blocks, and fourth in field goal percentage.

Maccabi general manager Claudio Coldebella said, "Leaf is a talented player with lots of motivation to prove himself at the highest level of Europe."

"Being able to play for such a historic club in a place that means so much to me is a dream come true. Can't wait until I have a chance to play in front of the amazing Maccabi fans," Leaf said.

T.J. Leaf is the son of former guard Brad Leaf, a standout in the Israeli league during the 1980s and 1990s, who played for Hapoel Galil Elyon and Maccabi Tel Aviv, won four league championships and three state cups and was named league MVP in 1990. ■