Omri Casspi
No. 18 – Sacramento Kings | |
---|---|
Position | Forward |
League | NBA |
Personal information | |
Born | Holon, Israel | June 22, 1988
Nationality | Israeli |
Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
Career information | |
NBA draft | 2009: 1st round, 23rd overall pick |
Selected by the Sacramento Kings | |
Playing career | 2005–present |
Career history | |
2005–2009 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
2006–2007 | →Hapoel Galil Elyon |
2009–2011 | Sacramento Kings |
2011–2013 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
2013–2014 | Houston Rockets |
2014–present | Sacramento Kings |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball Reference |
Omri Moshe Casspi (Template:Lang-he, born June 22, 1988) is an Israeli professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) tall, and plays the small forward position, but he can play also at the power forward position.
He was drafted 23rd overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings, making him the first Israeli to be selected in the first round of an NBA draft. With his Kings debut in 2009, Casspi became the first Israeli to play in an NBA game.[1] The Cleveland Cavaliers traded for him in June 2011. He signed with the Houston Rockets in July 2013.[2] In July 2014, Casspi was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a three-team trade, but was later waived. He then returned to Sacramento prior to the 2014–15 season.
Early life
Casspi is Jewish,[3][4][5] was born in Holon, Israel, and grew up in Yavne.[6] He is the son of Shimon and Ilana, and has an older brother, Eitan, and a younger sister, Aviv. Both of Casspi's parents are Israeli-born and of Moroccan Jewish heritage.[7]
As a child, Casspi played for junior programs at Elitzur Yavne and Maccabi Rishon LeZion. When he was 13, he moved to the Maccabi Tel Aviv youth team, winning the State Youth championship in 2005.
Professional career
Israel
Having previously played for Maccabi Tel Aviv youth team, Casspi made his professional debut at age 17 with Maccabi Tel Aviv during the 2005–06 season.[8] In his rookie season as the professional player, he had averages of 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game in the Israeli League. In 2006, he was loaned to Hapoel Galil Elyon for the 2006–07 season,[9] going on to win the 2007 "Discovery of the Year" award, after having a breakthrough season behind him. He averaged 11.1 points and 3.1 rebounds over 28 games. In April 2007, he scored 14 points for the World Select team at the Nike Hoop Summit in Memphis.[10]
Casspi returned to Maccabi for the 2007–08 season. The team reached the Euroleague Finals in 2008. Casspi received the 2008 Israeli League Sixth Man of the Year award, averaging 10.4 points and 4 rebounds per game. In February 2009, he finished in fourth place in voting for the FIBA Europe Young Men's Player of the Year Award for the 2008–09 season, behind Ricky Rubio, Danilo Gallinari and Kosta Koufos. Maccabi won a state championship in 2009. In the same season, Casspi's role in the team increased in the Israeli League, as well as in the Euroleague. Over 27 league games, Casspi averaged 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists, all career-highs.
NBA
In 2008, Casspi declared himself eligible for the 2008 NBA draft, but he withdrew before the declaration deadline after failing to receive a first-round draft guarantee from any NBA club.[9]
Sacramento Kings (2009–2011)
On June 25, 2009, Casspi was selected with the 23rd overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2009 NBA draft,[11] becoming the first Israeli player selected as a first-round draft pick. Not since Oded Kattash agreed to a contract with the New York Knicks in 1999 had an Israeli player come so close to playing in the NBA.[12] On July 10, 2009, he signed a multi-year deal with the Kings.[13]
On October 28, 2009, Casspi made his NBA debut for the Kings against the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 15 points.[14] On December 16, 2009, Casspi made his first NBA start. Scoring 22 points against the Washington Wizards, he tied the most points scored by any Kings player in his first start since the team moved to Sacramento in 1985.[15]
On January 1, 2010, Casspi scored a then career-high 23 points against the Los Angeles Lakers (along with 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 assists) as the Kings lost, 109–108. On January 2, 2010, he grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds against the Dallas Mavericks (along with 22 points, 1 steal, and 4 assists) as the Kings lost, 99–91. On January 5, 2010, Casspi set a new career-high with 24 points against the Phoenix Suns (along with 7 rebounds, 1 assist, no turnovers, and 10–19 from the field) as the Kings lost, 113–109.
In February 2010, Casspi was chosen 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.
In 2010–11, Casspi played in 71 games for Sacramento (starting 27 of them). He averaged 8.6 points, shot .412 shooting (including .372 from three-point range), and averaged 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 24.1 minutes per game. In his two seasons for Sacramento, he averaged 9.5 points on .431 shooting, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 24.6 minutes per game.[16]
Cleveland Cavaliers (2011–2013)
On June 30, 2011, Casspi was traded, along with a 2012 first round draft pick, to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for JJ Hickson.[16]
Houston Rockets (2013–2014)
On July 16, 2013, Casspi signed a multi-year deal with the Houston Rockets.[2] On November 1, 2013, for the first time Israelis on opposing NBA teams faced each other, as the Rockets played Gal Mekel and the Dallas Mavericks; the two were teammates on the Israeli Under 16, Under 18, and Under 20 teams, and on the Maccabi Tel Aviv junior team.[17][18]
On July 15, 2014, Casspi was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in a three-team trade that also involved the Rockets and the Washington Wizards.[19] On July 23, 2014, he was waived by the Pelicans.[20]
Return to the Kings (2014–present)
On September 18, 2014, Casspi signed with the Sacramento Kings, returning for a second stint.[21] On April 7, 2015, he scored a then career-high 31 points on 12-of-20 shooing in a 116-111 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.[22]
On July 14, 2015, Casspi re-signed with the Kings.[23] On December 28, 2015, he scored a career-high 36 points in a loss to the Golden State Warriors. He also tied Mike Bibby's team record with nine three-pointers.[24]
Footwear and endorsements
Casspi is an endorser of the Adidas brand and has worn various Adidas basketball shoe models during NBA games, including the Adidas D Rose 773 and the Adidas Crazy Ghost 2.[25]
Career statistics
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | PIR | Performance Index Rating |
Bold | Career high |
NBA
Regular season
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009–10 | Sacramento | 77 | 31 | 25.1 | .446 | .369 | .672 | 4.5 | 1.2 | .7 | .2 | 10.3 |
2010–11 | Sacramento | 71 | 27 | 24.0 | .412 | .372 | .673 | 4.3 | 1.0 | .8 | .2 | 8.6 |
2011–12 | Cleveland | 65 | 35 | 20.6 | .403 | .315 | .685 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .6 | .3 | 7.1 |
2012–13 | Cleveland | 43 | 1 | 11.7 | .394 | .329 | .537 | 2.7 | .7 | .6 | .3 | 4.0 |
2013–14 | Houston | 71 | 2 | 18.1 | .422 | .347 | .680 | 3.7 | 1.2 | .6 | .2 | 6.9 |
2014–15 | Sacramento | 67 | 19 | 21.1 | .489 | .402 | .733 | 3.9 | 1.5 | .5 | .1 | 8.9 |
Career | 394 | 115 | 20.8 | .432 | .356 | .684 | 3.9 | 1.1 | .6 | .2 | 7.9 |
Career highs
- Points: 36 @ Warriors 12/28/15
- Rebounds: 17 @ Clippers 02/21/15
- Assists: 7 2 times: @ Nuggets 04/12/15, @ Pistons 12/21/13
- Steals: 6 vs Wizards 12/08/10
- Blocks: 2 7 times: @ Cavaliers 03/22/14, vs Pistons 04/10/13, vs Mavs 02/04/12, vs Warriors 01/17/12, @ Suns 02/13/11, vs Celtics 02/16/10, @ Bucks 12/19/09
Euroleague
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005–06 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 3 | 0 | 2.7 | .000 | .000 | .500 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .7 | - 1.7 |
2007–08 | 20 | 7 | 11.3 | .545 | .286 | .600 | 2.1 | .6 | .3 | .3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | |
2008–09 | 16 | 8 | 17.5 | .505 | .450 | .771 | 3.1 | .4 | .8 | .2 | 8.8 | 7.1 | |
Career | 39 | 15 | 13.2 | .509 | .371 | .688 | 2.4 | .5 | .5 | .2 | 6.0 | 5.2 |
International career
Casspi plays for the Israel national basketball team in international competition,[26][27] and was the team captain at the 2015 European Championship.[28]
See also
References
- ^ "Casspi scores 15 in dream NBA debut". JPost.com. October 29, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
- ^ a b Rockets Sign Omri Casspi
- ^ "Stoudemire to explore his 'Hebrew roots'". ESPN.com. July 30, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ "Mural of NBA player Casspi defaced again". USAToday.com. September 17, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ Bloom, Nate (January 21, 2010). "Jews (and Mel) on the big screen, Winter sports roundup". Jweekly.com. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
- ^ Tracy, Marc (July 20, 2009). "Omri Casspi Is Ready For Primetime". TabletMag.com. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ "His sister: Omri Caspi not only aiming high". nrg.co.il (in Hebrew). May 8, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
- ^ "CASSPI, OMRI". Euroleague.net. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ a b Prospect Profile – Omri Casspi
- ^ "Batum, Ajinca Selected For Nike Hoop Summit in Memphis". DraftExpress.com. March 7, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
- ^ Sagi, Yehoshua (October 28, 2009). "Basketball / The first Israeli in the NBA / And now, the real journey for Kings' Casspi begins". Haaretz.com. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ Mittleman, Jerry (June 26, 2009). "Israeli basketball star Omri Casspi picked in first round of NBA draft". Haaretz.com. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
- ^ Sacramento Kings sign 2009 first round draft pick Omri Casspi
- ^ "Thunder get roaring, grab opener over Kings". NBA.com. October 28, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
- ^ "1. Legler's Favorite Things". ESPN.com. December 21, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
- ^ a b "Cavaliers Acquire Casspi and Future First Round Pick from Sacramento in Exchange For Hickson". NBA.com. June 30, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ Casspi and Mekel both shine in first-ever Israeli NBA face-off
- ^ Historic meeting for Gal Mekel and Omri Casspi
- ^ "Pelicans Complete Three-Team Trade with Rockets and Wizards". NBA.com. July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
- ^ Pelicans Waive Omri Casspi
- ^ "Kings Sign Omri Casspi". NBA.com. September 18, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
- ^ "Kings hold off Timberwolves behind Casspi". NBA.com. April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
- ^ "Kings Sign Omri Casspi and Luc Mbah A Moute". NBA.com. July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ Curry's triple-double leads Warriors past Kings 122-103
- ^ "Omri Casspi footwear usage". www.tackl.com. Tackl. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- ^ Zeldin, Ashley (June 21, 2011). "Omri Casspi brings basketball camp to valley". JewishJournal.com. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ "Wallace meets Israeli President". NBA.com. September 2, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ "For Casspi, Now Is Israel's Time To Advance". FIBAEUROPE.com. September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
External links
- 1988 births
- Living people
- Cleveland Cavaliers players
- Hapoel Galil Elyon players
- Houston Rockets players
- Israeli Basketball Super League players
- Israeli expatriate basketball people in the United States
- Israeli Jews
- Jewish basketball players
- Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. players
- National Basketball Association players from Israel
- People from Holon
- People from Yavne
- Sacramento Kings draft picks
- Sacramento Kings players
- Small forwards