During my 20-some years as a sportswriter, I interviewed hundreds of athletes, even a few Jewish ones. But what happened a few weeks ago, in an NBA locker room in Sacramento, was certainly a first for me — and maybe a first in sports history.
As I was tossing questions at 6-foot-9 Omri Casspi of the Sacramento Kings, a team trainer walked up to Casspi’s locker with a shopping bag. Then, like a magician reaching into his hat, he pulled out a menorah. Casspi smiled. Then the trainer put his hand back in and pulled out a plastic bag full of sugary brioche, and then a jar of jelly — make-your-own sufganiot!
A menorah and sufganiot in a pro locker room? Talk about sports history.
Then again, it was the second night of Chanukah, and Casspi does happen to be the NBA’s first Israeli baller. Kudos to Daniel Shapiro, the Kings’ strength and conditioning coach, for going the extra Jewish mile; the two made plans to light the candles after the game.
That I was there for such a unique exchange was coincidence. I simply wanted to see Casspi in action in his home arena, where he has become a fan favorite, before his first game in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors on Friday, Jan. 8.
I saw the 21-year-old former Maccabi Tel Aviv star play in his 20th NBA game, and as impressed as I was when he came off the bench and scored 14 points, I hadn’t seen anything yet.
Two games later, Casspi became a starter, and now has scored 20 or more points in four straight games (including a career-high 24 in a loss to Phoenix on Jan. 5). The 3-point specialist is averaging 13.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game overall, but in 10 games as a starter, the numbers shoot up to 17.7 and 5.7.
Moreover, two weeks ago, Sports Illustrated came out with a four-page article on Casspi headlined “Welcome, The King of Israel.” Talk about some heady times for the native of Yavne, Israel.
Few would have predicted it. After he became the first Israeli ever selected in the first round of an NBA draft (No. 23 overall) in June, he shot horribly and committed a ton of turnovers in the NBA summer league in Las Vegas.
In October, he made history as the first Israeli to play in the NBA, but expectations were low. Now he is one of the league’s top rookies and one of the Kings’ best players.
Israeli fans are going ga-ga. Kings’ games are broadcast live in Israel (some with 2 a.m. tipoffs) and Israeli newspapers are on top of the story big-time; at the game I attended, there were two reporters from the daily Ha’aretz.
U.S. fans are excited, too. At Kings’ road games, Jewish fans wave Israeli flags and hold up Casspi signs, which I’m hoping will be the case in Oakland this week and again on Feb. 17, when the Kings return for the Warriors’ annual Jewish Heritage Game.
Casspi is embracing that heritage. In a nod to chai, he wears No. 18, and he has participated in several events with the Sacramento-area Jewish federation, including a menorah lighting last month.
But Casspi’s appeal goes beyond feeling a sense of Jewish pride. Fans admire him for his long-range shooting skills, his work ethic and his embodiment of brighter days ahead for a team that went 17-65 last season.
And the Kings realize it. They’ve hitched their marketing wagon to Casspi and teammate Tyreke Evans (the NBA’s rookie of the month in December). Casspi is featured in a TV commercial, speaking flawless English, and fans recently could get a free Casspi bobblehead doll by buying tickets. And when I walked into Arco Arena, the first thing I saw was a life-sized poster of Casspi.
Outside the locker room on the night I was there, Casspi was interviewed on the TV pregame show, and when he left the court at halftime, a reporter grabbed him for a TV interview.
At this point, it’s tough to say what kind of career Casspi will have, but he’s off to a truly inspirational start. Check him out and feel the pride.
Contact Andy Altman-Ohr at [email protected]. For details about the Warriors’ Jewish Heritage Night on Feb. 17: (510) 986-2214 or [email protected].