Omri Casspi

Omri Moshe Casspi (Hebrew: עומרי משה כספי‎, 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. The Cleveland Cavaliers traded for him in June 2011. He signed with the Houston Rockets in July 2013. 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, was born in Holon, Israel, and grew up in Yavne. 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.