Omri Casspi: A prominent figure in NBA
The versatile, receptive, and exuberant Omri Casspi plays at the small forward position for the Sacramento Kings. Casspi is no doubt one among the prominent Israeli figure in National Basketball Association (NBA) as he was drafted 23rd overall in the 2009
NBA Draft by the Kings, making him the first Israeli to be selected in the first round of the draft.
NBA teams have drafted three prospects from basketball-crazed Israel -- Doron Shefer, Lior Eliyahu, and Yotam Halperin -- in the past. However, all were second-round picks, and none of the three made the league. It was a 6 feet 9 inch tall Casspi who made
his debut with the Kings in 2009, became the first Israeli to play in an NBA game. Is not it a great achievement! Yes, it is a great honour to represent your motherland (Israel) in NBA.
While talking to a crowd of his passionate fans, Casspi stated, "It is a great feeling every time I step out on to the court. There is a lot of pride and responsibility [in being] Jewish and Israeli and I feel happy and blessed."
Casspi had basketball into his nerves as he grew up watching Michael “Air Jordan” Jordan and started shooting hoops when he was just a grade two student. Omri’s family is also fond of playing basketball and was a great source of inspiration for him.
"My mother and father were my inspirations from a young age. My mother played until she was 21, my brother played until he was 18 and was [drafted into] the army, and my little sister plays on the under-16 team in Israel," Omri said.
Israeli basketball fans are proud of Omri and love to watch him representing his nation in NBA. Once, when his name was announced in the starting line-up over the loudspeaker in the capacity-filled Garden on Jewish Heritage Night, he received the loudest
and longest ovation of any player on the court.
The Israeli sharp shooter is averaging 10.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game over the last ten contests of the Kings during the season 2010-11. The most important aspect of his performance is that he is playing about 30 minutes per game over that span.
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Casspi initially struggled with his adjustment to the United States but performed well during the pre-season for the Kings, finishing as the ninth leading scorer among rookies with 11.7 points per game. He also shot 55 percent from the field and 52 percent
from three-point range. On December 16, 2009, Casspi made his first NBA start against the Washington Wizards. He contributed 22 points, tying the most points by any Kings player since the team moved to the Sacramento Kings in 1985.
On January 2, 2010, Omri grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds and also scored 22 points in Kings 99-91 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks.
On January 5, 2010, Casspi set a new career high with 24 points against the Phoenix Suns. In addition to that, he went 10-for-19 from the field and pulled down seven rebounds.
In 2010, Casspi was short-listed to participate in the NBA All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge, as well as the NBA All-Star Weekend H–O–R–S–E Competition against Kevin Durant and Rajon Rondo.
Casspi received the 2008 Israeli League Sixth Man of the Year Award.
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