Alba Berlin signs NBA draft pick Jack Kayil through 2031

Alba Berlin has secured a five-year contract extension with 20-year-old point guard Jack Kayil, tying him to the German champions through the end of the 2030/31 season.

Kayil, who was selected as the 39th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets and subsequently traded to the New York Knicks, will remain in Germany after not receiving a guaranteed contract from the Knicks. Alba Berlin had to negotiate with the Serbian club KK Mega Basket, where Kayil was previously on loan, to secure his return.

Alba Berlin sports director Himar Ojeda noted that the club aims to support Kayil’s continued development while helping him pursue his long-term goal of joining the NBA, following in the footsteps of former Alba players Franz and Moritz Wagner. Kayil, who was named the best young player in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League last season, stated that "the NBA remains my ultimate dream — and ALBA is the perfect place for me to continue pursuing that path."