ספורט

Injury-hit Pacers sign Israeli point guard

Israeli point guard Gal Mekel, cut by the Dallas Mavericks last week, has found a new home in the NBA -- the Indiana Pacers • Last year, Mekel played in 31 games for the Mavericks, averaging 2.4 points and 2 assists per game.

6/11/2014, 12:19, עודכן 9/11/2014, 08:37

צילום: AP // Israeli point guard Gal Mekel

Update (Friday, Nov. 7): A procedural snag with Mekel's visa prevented the deal from being finalized.

Israeli point guard Gal Mekel, who was cut by the Dallas Mavericks last week, has found a new home in the NBA -- the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers received a hardship exception to sign Mekel, 26, after Rodney Stuckey aggravated a strained tendon in his left foot. The Pacers went into Wednesday night's game against the Washington Wizards with only 10 healthy players.

In July 2013, Mekel became the second Israeli basketball player ever to sign with a NBA team (the first was Omri Casspi, who was drafted and signed by the Sacramento Kings in 2009), reaching a three-year deal with the Mavericks.

During the 2013-2014 season, Mekel played in 31 games for the Mavericks, averaging 2.4 points and 2 assists per game.

Mekel last played in Israel during the 2012-2013 season, when he starred on the Maccabi Haifa squad that won the Israel League title.