75 years of
Sports in Israel
Despite Israel’s small size, its athletes and sports teams have achieved inspiring successes over the last 75 years. Many elite Israeli and international players compete in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, and Maccabi Tel Aviv has won six European basketball championships. Israeli Olympians have also excelled in wrestling, judo, and gymnastics. Importantly, sports have been a force for coexistence and peace building, bringing together Jewish and Arab citizens inside the country, as well as Israelis and their neighbors throughout the Middle East.
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Omri Casspi
In 2009, Omri Casspi became the first Israeli drafted into the NBA. After playing for Hapoel Galil Elyon and Maccabi Tel Aviv, Casspi joined the Sacramento Kings. He went on to play for several other American teams before returning to Israel and retiring in 2021. Photo by Flash90
Sports in Israel
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Maccabi Tel Aviv wins European Basketball Championships
Maccabi Tel Aviv became the first Israeli team to win the European Basketball Championship in 1977. It has added five more championships since then, in 1981, 2001, 2004, 2005, and 2014. Photo by Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90
Sports in Israel
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Deni Avdija
In 2020, Israeli basketball star Deni Avdija was drafted by the Washington Wizards with the 9th overall pick. In 2022, during a wave of terrorism in Israel, Avdija placed a Star of David and “Am Yisrael Chai” on his sneakers to show his support for Israel. Photo Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90
