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{{short description|Israeli basketball player (born 1988)}}{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}

factoids

| birth_place = Holon, Israel| draft_year = 2009| draft_round = 1| draft_pick = 23| draft_team = Sacramento Kings| career_start = 2005| career_end = 2021| career_number = 7, 18, 36Small forward / Power forward (basketball)>power forward| years1 = 2005–2009Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C.>Maccabi Tel Aviv| years2 = 2006–2007| team2 = →Hapoel Galil Elyon20092010|end}}| team3 = Sacramento Kings20112012|end}}| team4 = Cleveland Cavaliers2013|full=y}}| team5 = Houston Rockets20142016|end}}| team6 = Sacramento Kings2016|end}}| team7 = New Orleans Pelicans2016|end}}| team8 = Minnesota Timberwolves2017|full=y}}| team9 = Golden State Warriors2018|full=y}}| team10 = Memphis Grizzlies| years11 = 2019–2021| team11 = Maccabi Tel Aviv| highlights =

• 4× Israeli Basketball Super League champion (2006, 2009, 2020, 2021)
• 2× Israeli Basketball State Cup (2006, 2021)
• Israeli Super League Sixth Man of the Year (2008)

Point (basketball)>Points| stat1value = 4,642 (7.9 ppg)Rebound (basketball)>Rebounds| stat2value = 2,355 (4.0 rpg)Assist (basketball)>Assists| stat3value = 662 (1.1 apg)| bbr = casspom01}}Omri Moshe Casspi (, born June 22, 1988) is an Israeli former professional basketball player. He mainly played at the small forward position, but also played at the power forward position.Casspi 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.NEWS, JPost.com, Casspi scores 15 in dream NBA debut,weblink October 29, 2009, April 27, 2010, As a rookie, Casspi was chosen to participate in the NBA All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge. The Cleveland Cavaliers traded for him in June 2011, and he signed with the Houston Rockets in July 2013.WEB,weblink Rockets Sign Omri Casspi, Houston Rockets, 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. In February 2017, he was traded to the Pelicans alongside DeMarcus Cousins, and signed with the Warriors during the offseason. Waived after an April injury, he signed with Memphis in July 2018.

Early life

One of the few Jewish players to reach the NBA after Dolph Schayes, Ernie Grunfeld, Danny Schayes and Jordan FarmarNEWS,weblink Stoudemire to explore his 'Hebrew roots', ESPN.com, July 30, 2010, June 30, 2011, NEWS,weblink Jews (and Mel) on the big screen, Winter sports roundup, Bloom, Nate, Jweekly.com, January 21, 2010, May 30, 2010, and the first Israeli-born,NEWS,weblink Mural of NBA player Casspi defaced again, USAToday.com, September 17, 2010, June 30, 2011, Omri Casspi was born in Holon, Israel. He was raised in the city of Yavne, Israel.NEWS, Tracy, Marc,weblink Omri Casspi Is Ready For Primetime, TabletMag.com, July 20, 2009, June 30, 2011, 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 descent.WEB,weblink His sister: Omri Caspi not only aiming high, he, May 8, 2009, May 8, 2009, nrg.co.il, As an adult, he added the middle name "Moshe" in memory of his grandfather.NEWS,weblink מעכשיו אמרו: עומרי משה כספי (From now say: Omri Moshe Casspi), שורץ, מיקי, 2012-07-30, Ynet, 2018-11-27, he, 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

Maccabi Tel Aviv (2005–2006)

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.WEB,weblink CASSPI, OMRI, Euroleague.net, June 30, 2011, In his rookie season as a professional player, he had averages of 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game in the Israeli Premier League.

Hapoel Galil Elyon (2006–2007)

In 2006, Casspi was loaned to Hapoel Galil Elyon for the 2006–07 season,WEB,weblink Prospect Profile – Omri Casspi, NBA.com, 2014-07-24,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100507095714weblink">weblink 2010-05-07, dead, going on to have 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.WEB,weblink Batum, Ajinca Selected For Nike Hoop Summit in Memphis, DraftExpress.com, March 7, 2007, May 30, 2010,

Return to Maccabi Tel Aviv (2007–2009)

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.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.

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,NEWS, Sagi, Yehoshua,weblink Basketball / The first Israeli in the NBA / And now, the real journey for Kings' Casspi begins, Haaretz.com, October 28, 2009, June 30, 2011, 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.WEB,weblink Israeli basketball star Omri Casspi picked in first round of NBA draft, Mittleman, Jerry, June 26, 2009, Haaretz.com, June 26, 2009, On July 10, 2009, he signed a multi-year deal with the Kings.WEB,weblink Sacramento Kings sign 2009 first round draft pick Omri Casspi – NBA Blog, July 10, 2009, On October 28, 2009, Casspi made his NBA debut for the Kings against the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 15 points.WEB,weblink Thunder get roaring, grab opener over Kings, NBA.com, October 28, 2009, May 30, 2010,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100319111847weblink">weblink March 19, 2010, dead, 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.WEB,weblink 1. Legler's Favorite Things, ESPN.com, December 21, 2009, May 30, 2010, 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.NEWS,weblink Cavaliers Acquire Casspi and Future First Round Pick from Sacramento in Exchange For Hickson, NBA.com, June 30, 2011, June 30, 2011,

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.

Houston Rockets (2013–2014)

File:Casspi dunk 2013-10-05.JPG|thumb|right|Casspi with the Rockets in October 2013]]On July 16, 2013, Casspi signed a multi-year deal with the Houston Rockets. 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 Israelis Under 16, Under 18, and Under 20 teams, and on the Maccabi Tel Aviv junior team.NEWS,weblink Casspi and Mekel both shine in first-ever Israeli NBA face-off, Haaretz, WEB,weblink Historic meeting for Gal Mekel and Omri Casspi, Jonathan Feigen on, November 1, 2013 at 4:09, PM, November 1, 2013, Ultimate Rockets, On July 15, 2014, Casspi was traded from the Rockets to the New Orleans Pelicans in a three-team trade that also involved the Washington Wizards.WEB,weblink Pelicans Complete Three-Team Trade with Rockets and Wizards, NBA.com, July 15, 2014, July 16, 2014, On July 23, 2014, he was waived bye the Pelicans.WEB,weblink Pelicans Waive Omri Casspi, New Orleans Pelicans,

Return to the Kings (2014–2017)

On September 18, 2014, Casspi signed with the Sacramento Kings, returning for a second stint.NEWS, Kings Sign Omri Casspi,weblink September 18, 2014, NBA.com, September 18, 2014, On April 7, 2015, he scored a then career-high 31 points on 12-of-20 shooting in a 116-111 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.NEWS, Kings hold off Timberwolves behind Casspi,weblink April 7, 2015, NBA.com, April 7, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20151101071204weblink">weblink November 1, 2015, dead, On July 14, 2015, Casspi re-signed with the Kings.NEWS, Kings Sign Omri Casspi and Luc Mbah A Moute,weblink July 14, 2015, NBA.com, July 14, 2015, On December 28, 2015, he scored a career-high 36 points in a loss to the Golden State Warriors. In a three-pointer shootout duel with Stephen Curry, he also tied Mike Bibby's team record with nine three-pointers.WEB,weblink Curry's triple-double leads Warriors past Kings 122-103, NBA.com, 2015-12-29,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20151228181708weblink">weblink 2015-12-28, dead, NEWS, Omri Casspi stared down Steph Curry in a 3-point battle and won,weblink April 9, 2018, foxsports.com, December 29, 2015, While shooting 44.8 percent from outside of the arc, he was being mentioned as a candidate for the All-Star Three-Point Contest.NEWS, NBA Players with All-Day Jumpers Who Should Be in the 3-Point Contest,weblink April 9, 2018, Giancarlo, Ferrari-King, bleacherreport.com, February 4, 2016,

New Orleans Pelicans (2017)

On February 20, 2017, Casspi and teammate DeMarcus Cousins were traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Tyreke Evans, Buddy Hield, Langston Galloway, and 2017 first round and second round draft picks.WEB,weblink Pelicans Acquire DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi, NBA.com, February 20, 2017, February 20, 2017, In his only game for the Pelicans three days later, Casspi broke his right thumb after scoring 12 points in the 129–99 loss to the Houston Rockets.WEB,weblink Rockets rout Pelicans, 129-99, in Cousins' New Orleans debut, ESPN.com, February 23, 2017, February 24, 2017, He was subsequently waived by the Pelicans on February 25WEB,weblink New Orleans Pelicans waive Omri Casspi, NBA.com, February 25, 2017, February 25, 2017, after being ruled out for four to six weeks.WEB,weblink Omri Casspi injury update, NBA.com, February 24, 2017, February 24, 2017,

Minnesota Timberwolves (2017)

On March 20, 2017, Casspi signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves.NEWS, TIMBERWOLVES SIGN OMRI CASSPI,weblink March 20, 2017, NBA.com, March 20, 2017,

Golden State Warriors (2017–2018)

On July 12, 2017, Casspi signed with the Golden State Warriors.NEWS, Warriors Sign Free Agent Forward Omri Casspi,weblink July 12, 2017, NBA.com, July 12, 2017, On December 14, 2017, he posted his 17th career double-double with 17 points and a season-high 11 rebounds in a 112–97 win over the Dallas Mavericks.WEB,weblink Durant leads Warriors past Mavericks for eighth straight win, ESPN.com, December 14, 2017, December 15, 2017, On February 12, 2018, Casspi posted a season-high 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 129–83 win over the Phoenix Suns.WEB,weblink Coach Kerr takes backseat in Warriors' 129-83 win over Suns, ESPN.com, February 12, 2018, April 7, 2018, On April 7, 2018, Casspi, being injured, was waived by the Warriors to make room for Quinn Cook on their playoff roster.WEB,weblink Warriors waive Omri Casspi to clear playoff roster spot for Quinn Cook, ESPN.com, April 7, 2018, April 7, 2018, WEB,weblink Warriors Waive Omri Casspi, NBA.com, April 7, 2018, April 8, 2018, Coach Steve Kerr explained that “We love Omri and what he brought to the team...It was difficult to sit with him and tell him we were going to do this."WEB,weblink Warriors' Steve Kerr explains reasoning behind cutting Omri Casspi, mercurynews.com, April 8, 2018, April 8, 2018, Without Casspi, the Warriors went on to win the NBA championship in 2018. Casspi subsequently received a championship ring from the Warriors for his contribution during the 2017–18 season.NEWS,weblink Omri Casspi received his championship ring on Monday, goldenstateofmind.com, November 6, 2018, November 7, 2018,

Memphis Grizzlies (2018–2019)

On July 11, 2018, Casspi signed with the Memphis Grizzlies.WEB, Memphis Grizzlies sign Omri Casspi,weblink NBA.com, July 15, 2018, July 11, 2018, Entering the 2018–19 season, Casspi had yet to participate in the NBA playoffs, the NBA's longest active tenured player to have never played in a playoff game,NEWS,weblink Warriors release forward Omri Casspi ahead of playoffs, 2018-04-07, KNBR-AM, 2018-08-15, en-US,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180815173057weblink">weblink 2018-08-15, dead, ranking him number five overall in league history,WEB,weblink Most Games, No Playoffs {{!, Basketball-Reference.com|website=Basketball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2018-08-15}} he finished the season ranking fourth on that list and first since the introduction of the 3pt line. On February 1, 2019, Casspi suffered from a meniscus tear in his right knee and surgery would be scheduled accordingly.WEB, Omri Casspi medical update 2.1.19,weblink NBA.com, February 1, 2019, February 1, 2019, On February 7, he was waived by the Grizzlies.WEB, Memphis Grizzlies waive Omri Casspi,weblink NBA.com, February 7, 2019, February 7, 2019,

Third stint with Maccabi Tel Aviv (2019–2021)

On August 13, 2019, Casspi returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv for a second stint, signing a three-year deal after playing ten seasons in the NBA.WEB,weblink Maccabi brings Casspi back home, August 13, 2019, EuroLeague.net, August 13, 2019, On November 1, 2019, Casspi was named Israeli Player of the Month after averaging 11.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals in four games played in October.NEWS, שחקן החודש הישראלי: עומרי כספי,weblink basket.co.il, November 1, 2019, November 1, 2019, he, On July 18, 2021, Casspi announced his retirement from basketball.WEB, Omri Casspi: Retires from basketball,weblink CBSSports.com, July 18, 2021, July 18, 2021,

Career statistics

{{NBA player statistics legend}}{| class="wikitable"

NBA

Regular season

{{NBA player statistics start}} {{nbay|2009}} Sacramento77 >| 10.3 {{nbay|2010}} Sacramento| 8.6 {{nbay|2011}} Cleveland35 >| 7.1 {{nbay|2012}} Cleveland| 4.0 {{nbay|2013}} Houston| 6.9 {{nbay|2014}} Sacramento.733 >1.5 >| 8.9 {{nbay|2015}} Sacramento27.2 >5.9 >| 11.8 {{nbay|2016}} Sacramento| 5.9 {{nbay|2016}} New Orleans.500 >| 12.0 {{nbay|2016}} Minnesota1.0 >| 3.5 {{Nbay|2017}} Golden State.580 >.4 >| 5.7 {{nbay|2018}} Memphis| 6.3 class="sortbottom" Career| 7.9

EuroLeague

{{Euroleague player statistics start}} 2005–06 Maccabi Tel Aviv| - 1.7 2007–0820 >.3 >| 4.7 2008–098 >.450 >.771 >| 7.1 2019–2021.2 >.636 >5.3 >3.2 >1.3 >12.0 >| 18.3 2020–21.3 >| 4.5 class="sortbottom" Career| 6.6

National team career

Casspi plays for the senior Israeli national team in international competition,NEWS, Zeldin, Ashley,weblink Omri Casspi brings basketball camp to valley, JewishJournal.com, June 21, 2011, June 30, 2011, June 28, 2011,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110628050840weblink">weblink dead, NEWS,weblink Wallace meets Israeli President, NBA.com, September 2, 2010, June 30, 2011, and he was the team's captain at the 2015 EuroBasket.NEWS,weblink For Casspi, Now Is Israel's Time To Advance, FIBAEUROPE.com, September 10, 2015, September 17, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20190211090619weblink">weblink February 11, 2019, dead,

Off the court

Venture capital

In May 2022, Casspi launched a $50 million venture capital fund called Sheva. During his NBA career, Casspi was an angel investor in startups such as DocuSign and DayTwo.NEWS, Hennessey, Zachy, Israeli NBA alum Omri Casspi launches VC fund,weblink 25 October 2023, Jerusalem Post, 2022-05-03,

Omri Casspi Foundation

Casspi runs the Omri Casspi Foundation, which every year sponsors trips backed by the National Basketball Players Association, for NBA players, WNBA players, and other celebrities, to Israel. The goal of the foundation is reach populations and show to the world what Israel is really like.WEB,weblink Omri Casspi's entourage: Celebs in Holy Land with Israeli basketball star, The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com, August 4, 2016, In 2015, those joining Casspi included DeMarcus Cousins, Caron Butler, Chandler Parsons, Iman Shumpert and Tyreke Evans.WEB,weblink Boogie, Omri & Caron Travel to Israel, Sacramento Kings, WEB,weblink Omri Casspi, Fellow NBAers Are 'Rockstars' in Israel, July 31, 2015, Tablet Magazine, The 2016 delegation included Jeremy Piven, Shawn Marion, Amar'e Stoudemire, Beno Udrih, Rudy Gay, Donald Sloan, Chris Copeland, Georges St-Pierre, Alysha Clark, Mistie Bass and Maria Ho.WEB,weblink Israeli NBA Star Omri Casspi Brings Celebrity Delegation to Israel,

Honors

On July 6, 2017, Casspi was one of seven athletes to have been honored with participation in the torch lighting ceremony of the 2017 Maccabiah Games.WEB,weblink Ervin, Gilot To Participate In Torch Lighting At Maccabiah Games, June 17, 2017, SwimSwam,

See also

• List of Jewish basketball players

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References

{{reflist|30em}}{{Authority control}}

External links

{{commons category}}{{basketballstats|nba=omri_casspi|bbr=c/casspom01}}

• Omri Casspi at euroleague.net
• {{Twitter}}

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