Famous Israeli Basketball Players

Amar'e Stoudemire is an American-born Israeli professional basketball coach and former player. He had a successful NBA career, winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2003 and being named to the All-NBA Team five times. Stoudemire also represented the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal. Beyond basketball, he has been involved in various off-court ventures, including owning a share of Hapoel Jerusalem and winning championships with both Hapoel Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Deni Avdija is an Israeli professional basketball player who currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA as a small forward. He began his career playing for Bnei Herzliya Basket and Maccabi Tel Aviv before joining the NBA. Avdija made history by becoming the youngest player to win the Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP award and led his team to a championship. He has also represented Israel at the youth level and won two gold medals, including the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship.

Omri Moshe Casspi is an Israeli former professional basketball player known for his versatility at both the small forward and power forward positions. He was drafted in the 2009 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings, making history as the first Israeli selected in the first round. Throughout his career, Casspi played for various teams including the Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, and Memphis Grizzlies. His career was marked by trades, signings, and stints with different NBA franchises.

T. J. Leaf is an Israeli-American professional basketball player currently with the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association. He started his career playing for the UCLA Bruins before being drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the 2017 NBA draft. Leaf earned All-American honors in high school and first-team all-conference recognition in college. After three seasons with the Pacers, he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021. Leaf has also represented Israel's Under-18 national team in international competitions.

David Michael Blatt is an Israeli-American professional basketball executive, coach, and former player. He played point guard at Princeton University and in the Maccabiah Games for the U.S. national team. Blatt had a successful playing career in Israel before transitioning to coaching due to an injury. He has won numerous Coach of the Year awards in both Israeli and Russian leagues. Blatt made history as the first Israeli-American head coach in the NBA, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2015 NBA Finals.

Zufer Avdija is a Serbian–Israeli professional basketball coach and former player known for his contributions to both the Yugoslav and Israeli basketball leagues. He played for Crvena zvezda in the Yugoslav Basketball League during the 1980s and later went on to play for various Israeli clubs. Avdija also represented the Yugoslav national basketball team during his career. Currently serving as the general manager and president of basketball operations for Bnei Herzliya in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, he continues to make significant contributions to the sport.

Gal Mekel is an Israeli former professional basketball player who played for the Dallas Mavericks and various teams in Europe and Israel. He had a successful career playing in the Israeli Super League for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Gilboa Galil, and Maccabi Haifa, as well as in the Italian Serie A League for Benetton Treviso. Mekel achieved accolades such as being a two-time Israeli Super League MVP and leading the Israeli Premier League in assists in multiple years. He made history by becoming the second Israeli player to join the NBA with a three-year guaranteed contract.

Sylven Landesberg is a versatile American-Israeli-Austrian basketball player known for his skills at the shooting guard and small forward positions. He has played professionally in Israel, including stints with Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he achieved success by winning the EuroLeague in 2014. Prior to his professional career, he earned accolades in high school and college, being named a McDonald's High School All American, New York State Mr. Basketball, and ACC Freshman of the Year during his time at the University of Virginia.

T. J. Cline is an American-Israeli professional basketball player currently playing for Hapoel Eilat in the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He also represents the Israeli national basketball team. Cline previously played college basketball for the Richmond Spiders and the Niagara Purple Eagles. Known for his skills on the court, Cline has made a name for himself as a talented player with a strong basketball lineage. He continues to make significant contributions to his team's success and is regarded as a promising player in the league.

Deon La Velle Thomas is a former basketball player who had a successful career both in college and professionally. He led his high school team to the Chicago Public League title and was named Illinois Mr. Basketball. At the University of Illinois, he became the all-time leading scorer in Fighting Illini history. Thomas was selected in the 1994 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks but chose to play professional basketball in Europe and Israel instead of pursuing a career in the NBA.

Alex Tyus is an American-Israeli professional basketball player known for his time with Hapoel Jerusalem in the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He was named the Finals MVP in 2018. Tyus has also played for the senior Israeli national basketball team after being naturalized as an Israeli citizen. Standing at 2.03 meters (6' 8") tall, he is recognized for his athleticism as a frontcourt player and skill as a rebounder. Tyus has made significant contributions to both his club and national teams with his versatile playing style.

Alon Stein is an Israeli-German professional basketball coach and former player. He has transitioned from playing to coaching and currently serves as an assistant coach for Maccabi Rishon Lezion in the Israeli Premier League. With a wealth of experience in the sport, Stein brings a deep understanding of the game to his coaching role, where he plays a key part in developing the team's strategies and helping players reach their full potential. His contributions are instrumental in the team's success on the court.