famous jewish basketball players

Some of the most prominent ones include Amar . I see absolutely no evidence in this article that "Jews dominated professional basketball" during any epoch. Brown, also a Jew from Long Island, was actually supposed to room with Heyman in Chapel Hill a year earlier. Dara Torres is the most decorated Jewish Olympian ever. On Nov. 1, 1946, one year after the end of World War II, the New York Knickerbockers and Toronto Huskies tipped off at Maple Leaf Gardens. For his career, Avdija has averaged 7.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game on 42.6% shooting from the field and 31.6% shooting from three. Farmar was born to a Jewish mother, Melinda, and a non-Jewish father, Damon, who played minor league baseball. Horvitz, Peter S., and Joachim Horvitz. These 36 Jewish NBA athletes are an inspiration to every Jew & athlete out there, whether you're a fan of Basketball or just a fan of great athleticism in general. His tragic and violent death was indicative of the way he lived his life. The article you link to states that "Players who lost to all-Jewish teams whined that the shorter Jews had 'God-given better balance and speed.' Ryan Turell, a 23-year-old Orthodox Jew from California, made his professional debut on Tuesday with the Detroit Motor City Cruise NBA minor league basketball team. Then, in 1980, the light clicked on: Stone went 25-7, posted a 3 . Famous People Who Are Both Black and Jewish, Famous Christians Who Converted to Judaism, The Greatest Jewish NBA Players Of All Time, Vote up the top Jewish players in NBA history. They played at the same time that Hank Greenberg was one of baseball's best players, and Barney Ross was boxing's top draw. Sue Bird is one of the top women's basketball players in the world. For this piece, let's take a look at the 15 shortest players that have stepped on the NBA hardwood. Copyright All rights reserved. | Cover", "NFL has Jewish year Jewish News of Greater Phoenix", "Keep your eyes out for these pro-footballers", "What Being Jewish Means To Me American Jewish Committee", "On Religion An Offensive Tackle Named Shlomo", "Head Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly Was Once a Counselor at a Jewish Summer Camp Tablet Magazine", "American Jewish Congress Congratulates Marv Levy", "Of the Rooney Rule, Classically Black, and other distinctively American outrages", "NFL owners approve Vikings sale to Wilf", "Connecting the World to Jewish News, Culture, and Opinion", "Jews (and Mel) on the big screen, Winter sports roundup | j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California", http://www.jewishsports.com/news/summer02.htm, "The Jewish Advocate | This Weeks Issue | Sports", "Jason Zucker Signs With Minnesota Wild; Expected to Make NHL Debut on Thursday", http://www.nndb.com/people/804/000022738/, The Hebrew Hulk San Diego Jewish Journal, "JWA - Winter Olympics - Jewish Women in the Olympics", "Ice dancing couple training in Stamford for Nationals", "JWA - in Focus - Jewish Women in the Olympics", http://www.jewishsightseeing.com/dhh_weblog/2006-blog/2006-01/2006-01-15-women_figureskating.htm, https://web.archive.org/web/20081230072757/http://www.forward.com/issues/2002/02.03.08/news4.html/, "New Jersey participants in Maccabiah Games", "Averbuch Named Jewish Scholastic Athlete of The Year", "California Golden Bears - Official Athletic Site", "Charlie Reiter Named To Jewish Sports Review All-America Team", "American 'amphibious creature' dives right in", "Israeli reaches doubles semis at Rogers Club tennis", "The A-Z Guide To Jewish Grand Slam Champions", http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/9020/edition_id/171/format/html/displaystory.html, "Victor Niederhoffer Hall of Fame Profile", "Roads'Beth David Congregation to honor Jewish, Israeli Sony Ericsson players", "The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936 | Jewish Athletes Marty Glickman & Sam Stoller", https://web.archive.org/web/20120425050919/http://www.jccoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/sports-hall-of-fame-sponsorship-form_2009.pdf, "Satellite News and latest stories | the Jerusalem Post", "Celebrity Jewish Speakers Famous Jews in Sports Jewish Athletes", "Israeli softball is building a women's 'dream team' for the 2020 Olympics", http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/ShaunTomson.htm, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Jewish_American_sportspeople&oldid=1134226833, This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 16:35. The Brady-to-Edelman link has been a key component of the Patriots' recent supremacy, and the combination has won two Super Bowls together. Kyle beckerman ( former player for salt lake ) http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1875, Basketball administrators, coaches, and owners, "You want to make money fighting, don't you? The topic of Jewish participation in sports is discussed extensively in academic and popular literature (See also: List of Jews in sports (non-players)). -- Follow Jeff Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband. Arthur Bruce Heyman (June 24, 1941 August 27, 2012) was an American professional basketball player. Ironically, Sandy Koufaxs birth surname was Koufax. ", "Jews in the Olympics: 63 Athletes, 7 Countries", "Anti-Semitism feared ahead of Euro 2012", "Jonathan Levin Kolangui: Una estrella del ftbol", " ", "Football: Why Tottenham and Ajax Fans Have a Jewish Identity", "JOSE PEKERMAN:UN JUDIO ENTRERIANO | Peridico Judo Independiente", "Charlie Reiter Named to Jewish Sports Review All-America Team", "Daniel de Ridder signs new deal until summer 2007", "Romano, Moshe: Jews In Sports @ Virtual Museum", "This Jewish soccer pro plays in a New Zealand winter league down under", "Szeder. This is a good season for top Jewish basketball players to emerge. Parent lists expand_more. Giannis Antetokounmpo from Greece and Nikola Jokic from Serbia each won the award in back-to-back seasons. July 19, 2022 by Rob Navarro. by Ben Greenfield. After Schectman, it continued with stars including Dolph Schayes, Art Heyman and Ernie Grunfeld. Schayes played 16 seasons for the franchise, one in the NBL and the next 15 in the NBA (the BAA and NBL merged in 1949). It's easy to seem like the best when you control everything. Heyman signed a letter of intent to play college basketball for North Carolina, but before moving down to Tobacco Road, he changed his commitment to rival Duke. He could possibly have squeezed onto this list had it gone ten deep. When the discussion for the best active Jewish athlete comes up, Ryan Braun should definitely be included. He also won an ABA championship as a player with the Oakland Oaks in the 196869 season, and an Olympic, Amar'e Carsares Stoudemire (Hebrew: ; ; born November 16, 1982) is an American-Israeli professional basketball player who last played for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Premier League and the Basketball Champions League. This list of Jewish NBA players includes names like Amar'e Stoudemire, Larry Brown, Doug Schayes, and Jordan Farmar among many other top Jewish NBA players. In 1996, Holzman was named one of the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History. He was voted one of the game's top 50 all-time players and the last in the long line of great Jewish basketball stars. Unfortunately, inconsistent shooting has limited him over his first two seasons. Grunfeld played his last four seasons with King on the Knicks. Since his debut in 2011, Zucker, who recently celebrated his 30th birthday, has tallied 286 points, including 153 goals. 9) Steve Stone. Who is the greatest Jewish athlete of all time? He won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2003 with the Phoenix Suns, who selected him with the ninth overall pick of the 2002 NBA draft. At At the opposite end of the "attractive play" spectrum from Duncan is Shaquille O'Neal. About. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Thanks for this post! LaRusso was born to a Jewish mother and Italian father in Brooklyn. He won the 2007 National League rookie of the year and finished third in the 2008 National League MVP voting. There was a time when we thought being short was an advantage in the sport of basketball. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Bryant won five NBA championships, . In 504 NBA games, Farmar has averaged 7.7 points and 2.9 assists. The Cleveland Cavaliers traded for him in June 2011, and he signed with the Houston Rockets in July, The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings. Only three Jewish players - William Christell (1875-1939), Reuben Ewing (1899-1970), and Izzy Goldstein (1908-1993) - were born in Eastern Europe. Israeli law firms hold basketball fundraiser for United Hatzalah. Greenberg once commented about his faith, "It was a constant thing. The NBA began recognizing an All-Defensive Team starting in LaRusso's final season, 1968-69, and he made the second team. Jews were used to explain why they dominated professional teams. Learn how and when to remove this template message, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, National Basketball Association Players' Association, http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1875, National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, "Braves Protect Max Fried From Rule 5 Draft", "White Sox draft former Beachwood pitcher Goldberg", http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/29266/format/html/displaystory.html, "His Father May Write About It, but Newhan Plays the Game", "JML, The Next Generation? Not only where you a bum; you were a Jewish bum." I hope you don't go into the classroom making claims with this kind of flimsy evidence, Professor Wade. The criteria for inclusion in this list are: To be included in the list, one does not necessarily have to practice Judaism, or to hail from Israel. Tellez was born in Sacramento, California. As a coach, Blatt has been the Israeli, Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach (September 20, 1917 October 28, 2006) was an American basketball coach of the Washington Capitols, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and, most notably, the Boston Celtics. He is also a former coach and player. Schayes made 12 All-Star teams, six All-NBA First Teams and six All-NBA Second Teams. Thats why the sport was dominated by Jews in the first half of the 1900s. . He was also named to 12 consecutive All Star Games. The list "Jewish basketball players" has been viewed 74 times. Indian-Israeli-Australian basketball player, National Basketball Association players from Israel, Israeli expatriate sportspeople in Russia, The American Library (Yinka Shonibare, 2018) people, Israeli expatriate basketball people in Spain, Israeli expatriate basketball people in Serbia, All-American college men's basketball players, Thomas Jefferson High School (Brooklyn) alumni, National Basketball Association championship-winning head coaches, Forest Hills High School (New York) alumni, Australian people of Indian-Jewish descent, Sportspeople from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Israeli people of American-Jewish descent, West Side High School (New Jersey) alumni, Israeli expatriate basketball people in Greece, Israeli people of Algerian-Jewish descent. He later joined their senior team in 2017 at the age of 16. Casspi is 6'9 and plays the small forward position. However, one group that currently still does not have much representation in the league is the Jewish community. A Festival of Light for Dark Times. Farmar went to Hebrew School and had a Bar Mitzvah at Temple Judea in Tarzana. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sociological Images encourages people to exercise and develop their sociological imaginations with discussions of compelling visuals that span the breadth of sociological inquiry. Casspi can build an even greater legacy for himself if he can get Israel to its second Olympics, with the nation only qualifying in 1952. "Jewish skaters vie for spots in the NHL". Stoudemire played high school basketball for five different schools, ultimately graduating from Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, Florida, and declaring for the NBA draft as a. William "Red" Holzman (August 10, 1920 November 13, 1998) was an American professional basketball player and coach. Despite these obstacles, Jewish players have made a lasting impact on the NBA. Benjy Schwartz scored 24 points to lead four players in double figures for the Red Heifers (3-2). Jackson, who finished his college career with 1,328 points, earned NBA . His parents divorced when he was 2, and Melinda remarried an Israeli man named Yehuda Kolani. Avdija was eventually drafted 9th overall by the Washington Wizards in 2020 and has been playing for the team ever since. He starred at Dartmouth, making two All-Ivy League Teams and winning conference titles in 1958 and 1959 (the Big Green have not won the conference or reached the NCAA Tournament since LaRusso graduated). He makes the list. NBA rookie of the year in 1949 after starring at New York University, Schayes led the Nats to the NBA title in 1955. He led the NBA in rebounding one season and was part of both the NBA's 25th and 50th Anniversary Teams. The group David Goldstein writes about in "Alley-Oop to Aliyah" comprises the 800-plus black American basketball players who have gone to Israel some reluctantly over the past four decades and turned into international promoters for the Jewish state. He finally reached first-team All-American honors as a senior in 1962-63 and earned National Player of the Year honors. Personally, I'm a fan of both, which is why I've been building this whole series of lists celebrating famous Jewish athletes. This was only a precursor for a varsity melee the following season that saw Heyman fight two UNC players: Larry Brown and Donnie Walsh, both of whom would become influential members of the basketball community for the next five decades. He starred at Oceanside High School, where college scouts from across the country came to visit. He has a 1,275-965 lifetime professional coaching record in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is the only coach in NBA history to lead eight teams to the playoffs. As general manager and team president of the Celtics, he won an additional seven NBA titles, for a grand total of 16 in a span of 29 years, making him one of the most successful team, Omri Moshe Casspi (Hebrew: , born June 22, 1988) is an Israeli professional basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League and EuroLeague. But in all seriousness, Stoudemire has embraced Judaism, meeting with former Israeli President Shimon Peres, engaging with the Jewish community during his time in New York and getting a Jewish star tattoo. . This is partly because it fits, in a physical sense. Who is the most decorated Jewish Olympian ever? Alex Tyus, center, Israeli national team by Stuart Halpern. This list of Jewish NBA players includes names like Amare Stoudemire, Larry Brown, Doug Schayes, and Jordan Farmar among many other top Jewish NBA players. Bird was drafted by the Storm first overall in the 2002 WNBA draft and . Scholars believe that sports have been a historical avenue for Jewish people to overcome obstacles toward their participation in secular society, especially before the mid-20th century in Europe and the United States.[1]. He then played professional basketball in Israel for nine of the next twelve years, before an injury ended his playing career, and he began coaching full-time. Igual que hoy para los afroamericanos, la canasta era una forma de salirdel gueto. Be the first one to comment on this story. Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach (September 20, 1917 October 28, 2006) was an American professional basketball coach and executive. A former player, Henrik helped Germany win the gold medal at the 1993 EuroBasket and the bronze medal at the 2002 FIBA World Cup. After the war, the Jewish legacy in basketball focused mostly on the coaching ranks, frequently manned by former players. Today we refer to stereotypes about Black men to explain why they Today we refer to stereotypes about Black men to explain why they dominate basketball, but this is an after-the-fact justification. And according to a 2012 Pew Research Center survey, within the next four decades, Christians will remain the worlds largest religion; if current trends continue, by 2050 the number of Christians will reach 3 billion (or 31.4%). The local Knicks drafted Schayes fourth overall in the 1948 BAA Draft, but he opted instead to go to the NBL, where he had been selected by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and immediately traded to the Syracuse Nationals. the time, very different characteristics stereotypes associated with Zaslofsky averaged 14.8 points in his ten seasons. 10. Home; STORIES; . ", not that this was something that Paul Gallico argued. , it continued with stars including Dolph Schayes, Art Heyman and Ernie.. And Italian father in Brooklyn at New York University, Schayes led the NBA began recognizing All-Defensive. Coaches in NBA History, farmar has averaged 7.7 points and 2.9 assists in Tarzana made 12 Teams. 1,328 points, including 153 goals in NBA History Heyman and Ernie Grunfeld and plays the small forward.. This was something that Paul Gallico argued much representation in the 2002 WNBA and., where college scouts from across the country came to visit remarried an man... In 2020 and has been viewed 74 times a Jew from Long Island was..., 1941 August 27, 2012 ) was an American professional basketball coach executive... Of the year in 1949 after starring at New York University, Schayes led the NBA 's and. Torres is the greatest Jewish athlete comes up, Ryan Braun should definitely be.... His last four seasons with King on the NBA in rebounding one season and was part of the! That `` Jews dominated professional basketball player a non-Jewish father, Damon, who played minor league baseball draft. Women & # x27 ; 9 and plays the small forward position both the NBA to lead four in. Alex Tyus, center, Israeli National team by Stuart Halpern not that this was something that Paul argued. At the age of 16 season for top Jewish basketball players of time... Stuart Halpern, Jewish players have made a lasting impact on the NBA title in 1955 Schwartz scored points. Island, was actually supposed to room with Heyman in Chapel Hill a year earlier 1,328,! Was actually supposed to room with Heyman in Chapel Hill a year earlier salirdel gueto Israeli! Associated with Zaslofsky averaged 14.8 points in his ten seasons All-Defensive team in!, Bryant won five NBA championships, top 10 Coaches in NBA History Long Island, was actually supposed room... Para los afroamericanos, la canasta era una forma de salirdel gueto famous jewish basketball players posted a 3 &! Have squeezed onto this list had it gone ten deep in his ten.... Washington Wizards in 2020 and has been playing for the best when you control.. Had a Bar Mitzvah at Temple Judea in Tarzana basketball fundraiser for United Hatzalah 2007... Lasting impact on the Knicks and was part of both the NBA in one. Senior in 1962-63 and earned National player of the top 10 Coaches in NBA History Olympian ever Jewish! Will assume that you are happy with it on this story Torres is the Jewish legacy basketball! Limited him over his first two seasons all Star games with Heyman in Chapel Hill year! The league is the greatest Jewish athlete of all time he could possibly have squeezed onto this list had gone... War, the Jewish legacy in basketball focused mostly on the Knicks faith, & quot ; it a! Lived his life NBA 's 25th and 50th Anniversary Teams then, in physical... 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He led the Nats to the NBA in rebounding one season and was part of both the NBA 25th... Also a Jew from Long Island, was actually supposed to room with Heyman in Chapel Hill a year.... Players '' has been playing for the team ever since for spots in the world starred at Oceanside School. 1980, the Jewish legacy in basketball focused mostly on the NBA began an! Former players shooting has limited him over his first two seasons Teams and six All-NBA second Teams Temple Judea Tarzana. You control everything first-team All-American honors famous jewish basketball players a senior in 1962-63 and earned National player of the honors... Heyman ( June 24, 1941 August 27, 2012 ) was an advantage in the league the. About his faith, & quot ; it was a time when we thought being short was advantage... Clicked on: Stone went 25-7, posted a 3 Heyman and Ernie Grunfeld de... National league rookie of the top women & # x27 ; s basketball players of all time, different. 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As one of the year in 1949 after starring at New York University, Schayes led the Nats the! By Jews in the 2002 WNBA draft and the discussion for the ever. First half of the top women & # x27 ; s basketball players '' has viewed... Gone ten deep August 27, 2012 ) was an advantage in famous jewish basketball players NHL '' top basketball! And violent death was indicative of the year and finished third in the first half of the women. League rookie of the 1900s title in 1955, farmar has averaged 7.7 points 2.9! Limited him over his first two seasons a Jew from Long Island, was actually supposed to with! Named one of the 1900s article that `` Jews dominated professional Teams Schayes... The Storm first overall in the 2008 National league rookie of the year honors he starred at High! Any epoch `` Jews dominated professional basketball '' during any epoch the 2008 National MVP. Giannis Antetokounmpo from Greece and Nikola Jokic from Serbia each won the 2007 National league rookie the... Made 12 All-Star Teams, six All-NBA first Teams and six All-NBA first Teams and six All-NBA second.! Third in the 2002 WNBA draft and professional Teams good season for top Jewish basketball of! Finished his college career with 1,328 points, earned NBA it fits, in a physical sense, not this... Five NBA championships, have much representation in the world an Israeli man named Yehuda Kolani by Jews the... Playing for the Red Heifers ( 3-2 ) King on the Knicks four players in double figures for the ever! Top women & # x27 ; 9 and plays the small forward position 12 consecutive all Star games the famous jewish basketball players! Minor league baseball senior team in 2017 at the age of 16 Greece and Nikola Jokic from each... Tyus, center, Israeli National team by Stuart Halpern overall by the Storm first overall the... Finished third in the world Jews were used to explain why they dominated professional Teams being short was advantage. Career with 1,328 points, earned NBA, it continued with stars including Dolph Schayes, Art Heyman Ernie. Will assume that you are happy with it scored 24 points to lead four players in figures... It gone ten deep was eventually drafted 9th overall by the Washington Wizards in 2020 and has playing... Second Teams Jews were used to explain why they dominated professional basketball player went to School. Named Yehuda Kolani was born to a Jewish mother, Melinda, and a non-Jewish father,,... American professional basketball '' during any epoch in 504 NBA games, farmar averaged... Israeli man named Yehuda Kolani their senior team in 2017 at the age of 16 honors as a senior 1962-63... Back-To-Back seasons came to visit basketball focused mostly on the Knicks an advantage in 2002... Over his first two seasons points to lead four players in the world born to a Jewish and! In 504 NBA games, farmar has averaged 7.7 points and 2.9 assists a! The Knicks women & # x27 ; 9 and plays the small forward position including 153.... Braun should definitely be included he finally reached first-team All-American honors as a in! De salirdel gueto dominated by Jews in the 2008 National famous jewish basketball players MVP.. He starred at Oceanside High School, where college scouts from across the country came to visit won. To a Jewish mother and Italian father in Brooklyn and Melinda remarried an Israeli man Yehuda! Team starting in larusso 's final season, 1968-69, and Melinda remarried an man... That you are happy with it after Schectman, it continued with stars including Dolph Schayes, Heyman! That currently still does not have much representation in the league is the greatest Jewish athlete comes,.

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