When Omri Casspi takes the floor for the Sacramento Kings this winter, he will be the first Israeli-born player to play in the NBA. Casspi was selected by the Sacramento with the 23rd overall pick of Thursday’s draft.
The six foot, nine inch power forward was born in Yavne and played for the Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Super League. Casspi is the result of a newfound Israeli national obsession over basketball. Look for more Israelis to follow Casspi’s footsteps into the NBA.
Casspi is not in fact the first Israeli-born basketball player to be drafted. Doron Shefer, Lior Eliyahu, and Yotam Halperin were drafted, but never made their respective teams. Israel looked like it would get its first player into the NBA when Oded Kattash signed a contract with the New York Knicks in 1998, but never played in the NBA due to the 1998-99 season lockout.
For now, Casspi has the honor of being the first Israeli drafted in the first round, and barring any unforeseen accidents, will be the first Israeli to play in the league.
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