First Israeli Set For NBA
Israeli sporting history was made last Thursday when Omri Casspi became the first Israeli to be picked in the first round of the NBA draft - all but ensuring he will eventually become the first Israeli to play in the NBA.
Selected by the Sacramento Kings, the 21-year-old Maccabi Tel Aviv forward wept with joy in his parent's living room in Yavne, where he watched the draft with family and friends.
Flying out to Sacramento the following day, he said: "I'm so happy that I will eventually become the first Israeli in the NBA. I was very excited and nervous in the week leading up to the draft and I'm so happy to have reached this moment. I can't explain how it feels to hear your name being called. It's a dream come true.
"This is a great situation for me, they want to rebuild in the coming seasons and they told me they believe in me, which is very important to me.
"I'm sure every player in the roster will be given a chance and when my chance comes I will prove I deserve to play. I think Sacramento is an excellent place to grow as a player and to start my NBA career."
Saying he can't wait to begin his NBA career, he added: "I'm going to be playing against the best players in the NBA and I need to first and foremost be ready to defend them, which requires me to work on my strength. I will be giving my all at every training session and game. I'm going to take it one step at a time. I've realized one dream and now my new dream is to continue to improve as a player."
