JTA) — Omri Casspi, the first Israeli to make it to the NBA, has retired from playing basketball professionally.
Casspi, 33, began his career with Maccabi Tel Aviv, an Israeli team, and made history in 2009 when he was selected in the NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. A forward, he played in the NBA for a decade, with stints in Cleveland, Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, Minnesota and with the Golden State Warriors. He wore the number 18, which in Judaism signifies life.
When the Warriors won the championship in 2018, Casspi got a ring even though he was not on the postseason roster. After the following season, he left the NBA and returned to play for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
He announced his retirement Sunday.
“Basketball has given me a lot over the years. I reached the peaks of European and world basketball that I never dreamed of,” he said in a statement, according to the Times of Israel. “I did not believe I’d make those dreams come true.”
