New Jersey Nets guard Jordan Farmar excited to play for Maccabi Tel Aviv – NBA Update
The National Basketball Association’s lockout is not expected to end any time soon and this made various NBA players to play overseas. One such name was of Jordan Farmar of the New Jersey Nets, who has signed a contract of one
year with an Israeli basketball club, Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The New Jersey Nets’ guard Jordan Farmar is excited to avail the opportunity and looking forward to a “great life experience”.
The former UCLA star was born to an African-American father and a Jewish mother. His faith makes him a natural citizen of Israel and has plans to apply for the Israeli citizenship.
Once declared the citizen, he has to pay huge amount as the income tax will be imposed on his earnings in Israel but he will be able to participate in the Israeli National Basketball Team for the 2012 London Olympics and various
other competitions on international level.
The 24 years old was given a warm welcome and was greeted at the airport on Thursday by dozens of fans singing and beating drums in celebration. Expressing his excitement while talking to the reporters Farmar said he is ready to
play for an organization that is committed to winning.
The head coach of Maccabi, David Blatt acknowledged Jordan’s intense desire to join the team and said, “Jordan is one of the best and most exciting and I believe most special guards who have come to Israel for a long time. We’re
thrilled to have him. It was really a decision of the heart rather than a professional matter.”
Farmar’s style of playing offensive game synchronize well the with David Blatt’s philosophy of the game. Under the NBA legendary coach, Phil Jackson, he has displayed both highly offensive and pressurized defensive game that contributed
in the two NBA titles won by the Los Angeles Lakers. He was optimistic to adjust well to the European game and gel with the Maccabi roster.
With an affirmative approach for playing his role in the team Farmar said, “I’m here to be a positive influence. I’m a leader by nature, whether I’m on the floor or not. I’m not here to show anybody up. I’m just trying to be a
member of the team, a positive influence and whatever they ask of me I’ll do.”
The upcoming season of the Tel Aviv will start on September 1st and Farmar will play alongside the former guard of the Duke, Jon Scheyer who is also a Jew.
He has shown complete loyalty with the Maccabi team and stated, "I'm committed to this team, to the coaching staff and the organization for the time I am here and I want to do my part to help the team grow."
Farmar's contract with Al Macabi has an opt out clause, which will allow him to return to NBA once the players and the owners reach an agreement over the new Collective Bargaining Agreement or CBA.
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