Omri Casspi is a former Israeli professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for ten seasons. He was born on June 22, 1988, in Holon, Israel, and began his basketball career playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv, one of the most successful basketball teams in Europe.
Casspi was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2009 NBA draft, becoming the first Israeli-born player to be drafted in the first round. He played for the Kings for two seasons before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011. He played for the Cavaliers for one season before being traded to the Houston Rockets in 2013.
Casspi played for the Rockets for one season before being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2014. He played for the Pelicans for one season before being traded back to the Kings in 2015. He played for the Kings for two more seasons before being traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2017.
Casspi played for the Warriors for one season before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2018. He played for the Grizzlies for one season before being waived in February 2019. He then signed with the Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks, but was waived after just one game due to a knee injury.
Throughout his NBA career, Casspi was known for his versatility and ability to play multiple positions. He was also known for his three-point shooting, averaging 36.7% from beyond the arc over his career.
Off the court, Casspi was known for his philanthropic work, particularly in Israel. He established the Omri Casspi Foundation in 2011, which focuses on promoting education, health, and fitness for children in Israel.
In April 2021, Casspi announced his retirement from professional basketball at the age of 32. He cited a desire to spend more time with his family and focus on his philanthropic work as reasons for his retirement.
Overall, Casspi had a successful career in the NBA, playing for six different teams over ten seasons. He was a trailblazer for Israeli basketball players in the NBA and was known for his versatility and three-point shooting. Off the court, he was a philanthropist and established the Omri Casspi Foundation to promote education, health, and fitness for children in Israel.
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