Amanda Knapp
Basketball has a deep-rooted history with Judaism. Jews were crucial to the development of college and professional basketball during the first half of the 20th century, with many Jewish players filling the rosters of New York schools such as NYU, CCNY, Long Island University, and St. John's University. The sport was popularised among Jewish youth in urban areas, and a specific playing style of New York schools based on constant motion, quick passing, and deliberate cuts to the basket emerged. Today, there are few Jewish players in the NBA, but some notable names include Ryan Turell, the first Orthodox Jew selected in the G League draft, and Domantas Sabonis, a Lithuanian-American NBA star who is embracing Jewish practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Jewish players in NBA | Ossie Schectman, Domantas Sabonis, Amari Bailey, Ryan Turell |
| Jewish players in WNBA | Nancy Lieberman, Donna Orender |
| Jewish players in other leagues | David Blatt, Mike Bloom, David Blu, Frédéric Bourdillon, Larry Brown, Omri Casspi, Eban Hyams, Doron Jamchi, Jacqui Kalin, Oded Kattash, Sylven Landesberg, Rudy LaRusso, Howard Lassoff, Yam Madar, Jan Martín, Ezequiel Skverer, Amar'e Stoudemire, Jon Scheyer, Barney Sedran, Tiago Splitter |
| Kosher food availability at stadiums | Hot Nosh kosher vending machines at sports stadiums in Boston, Kosher concession stands at St. Louis Cardinals Stadium, Kosher options at Air Canada Centre in Toronto |
| Jewish history with basketball | Jews were crucial to the development of college and professional basketball during the first half of the 20th century, with many Jewish players in New York schools such as NYU, CCNY, Long Island University, and St. John's University |
| Lessons basketball taught | Trust, selflessness, adaptability, having a game plan, perseverance |
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What You'll Learn
Jewish players in the NBA
Basketball has a deep-rooted history with the Jewish community. While there are hardly any current Jewish NBA players, the sport owes its development to its roots with Jewish neighbourhood teams. During the Progressive Era, basketball was popularized among Jewish youth in urban areas, especially in settlement houses and communal institutions. At Madison Square Garden, Jewish players filled the rosters of New York schools such as NYU, CCNY, Long Island University, and St. John's University.
In the 2024-2025 season, there were three Jewish players in the NBA: Deni Avdija, Amari Bailey, and Domantas Sabonis. Avdija, a native of Beit Zera in northern Israel, was drafted No. 9 overall by the Wizards in 2020, the earliest an Israeli has been selected in the NBA Draft. He averaged 14.7 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and a 51% field goal percentage, all career highs. Avdija is also one of the more vocal Jewish athletes in American professional sports, celebrating Hanukkah with his teammates and sitting out a game during the preseason because it fell on Yom Kippur.
Bailey personally identifies as Jewish through his mother, an influencer known as Johanna Leia to her Instagram followers. Entering his ninth NBA season, Sabonis, a center and power forward, has become one of the premier players in the league. He is in the process of converting to Judaism and averaged 19.4 points and 13.7 rebounds per game last season, leading the league in the latter.
Ryan Turell, who played in the G League last season, is also a Jewish basketball player. He played college basketball for Yeshiva University, a small Jewish university in New York City, and was nicknamed "the Jewish Larry Bird." In 2022, he was selected in the first round of the NBA G League draft by the Motor City Cruise, becoming the first Orthodox Jew selected in the G League draft.
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Kosher food in basketball stadiums
Basketball is a popular sport that is enjoyed by people of all cultures and religions. For those who observe Jewish dietary laws, finding kosher food options at basketball stadiums can be challenging. However, there are several basketball stadiums in North America that offer kosher food options to cater to their Jewish fans and make the game day experience more inclusive and enjoyable.
One notable example is the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, home to the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Air Canada Centre offers kosher options such as hot dogs, knishes, and other typical stadium fare. Similarly, the TDBankNorth Garden in Boston, home to the Boston Celtics of the NBA and the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL), provides kosher options like pizza, baked ziti Parmigiana, mozzarella sticks, hot dogs, knishes, onion rings, and vegetable cutlets.
In the United States, Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., home to the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB), also offers kosher options. While it is not a basketball stadium, it is worth mentioning as it is one of the few stadiums with kosher concession stands. The kosher menu at Nationals Park includes BBQ beef sliders, deli sliders, falafel, and other options.
It is important to note that the availability of kosher food at these stadiums may vary by location and concession stands. Additionally, kosher stands at stadiums typically observe Jewish Sabbath and holidays, so they are usually closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and during Jewish holidays.
While the options may be limited, the inclusion of kosher food at these basketball stadiums demonstrates a recognition of the diverse needs of their fans and a commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all. It allows Jewish individuals and families to enjoy the game while adhering to their religious dietary restrictions.
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Basketball as a Jewish sport
Basketball has a long history as a Jewish sport, with the sport's roots lying in the Jewish neighbourhoods of New York City. Invented in 1891, basketball quickly spread across America as a popular sport that taught teamwork, cooperation, discipline, and obedience. During the Progressive Era, the sport was particularly popular among Jewish youth in urban areas, especially in settlement houses and communal institutions.
Jewish basketball players were crucial to the development of college and professional basketball during the first half of the 20th century. At Madison Square Garden, Jewish players filled the rosters of New York schools such as NYU, CCNY, Long Island University, and St. John's University. The mainstream press began to focus on a specific playing style of New York schools based on constant motion, quick passing, and deliberate cuts to the basket. This playing style was attributed to the mental acuity and lack of size of Jewish players.
On March 3, 1934, a highly anticipated game between NYU and CCNY, in which nine out of ten starters were Jewish, further propelled basketball's rise to prominence. The following year, Newsweek ran a story declaring basketball a sport "at which Jews excel". This game and the Newsweek article occurred during the peak of Jewish prominence in basketball.
While there are few professional Jewish basketball players today, basketball continues to hold cultural significance for Jews. The sport has taught important lessons about trust, selflessness, adaptability, and perseverance in the face of failure. The story of the Maccabees and their victory during Hanukkah is often invoked to illustrate the importance of finding a way forward when faced with challenges.
One notable contemporary Jewish basketball player is Ryan Turell, who played college basketball for Yeshiva University, a small Jewish university in New York City. Nicknamed "the Jewish Larry Bird," Turell led Yeshiva University to one of the longest winning streaks in NCAA Division III men's college basketball history. In 2022, he became the first Orthodox Jew selected in the NBA G League draft.
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Jewish basketball players in college
Basketball has deep roots in Jewish history, with the sport quickly becoming popular among Jewish youth in urban areas in the early 20th century. During the Depression, when professional basketball remained a marginal sport, college basketball became one of the most popular sports in the country, with Jewish players filling the rosters of New York schools such as NYU, CCNY, Long Island University, and St. John's University.
Today, several Jewish college basketball players are making a name for themselves and representing the Jewish community proudly. One notable player is Ryan Turell, who played college basketball for Yeshiva University in the Skyline Conference. Turell, who grew up in a household with a strong focus on basketball and Judaism, led Yeshiva University to one of the longest winning streaks in NCAA Division III men's college basketball history. He was named the NABC DIII National Player of the Year, Skyline Conference Player of the Year, and D3hoops.com Region 3 Player of the Year in his senior year. Another notable player is Ben Shtolzberg, a 6-foot-4 junior from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Shtolzberg told ProInsight in 2021 that he wanted to set an example for Jewish basketball players.
In women's college basketball, Yarden Garzon of the Indiana Hoosiers is making waves as the team's leading scorer, averaging 14.5 points per game. Columbia University's Riley Weiss is another standout player, leading her team in scoring with an average of 17.1 points per game and earning a First Team-All Ivy League nomination. Additionally, players like Zevi Samet of Yeshiva University and Rinat of Toledo, who averaged 4.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, are also making an impact in the world of college basketball.
Jewish players are well represented in March Madness, with several athletes and coaches participating in the tournament. The University of Michigan's 7-foot star Danny Wolf, an Israeli-American, has been in the national spotlight since leading the Yale Bulldogs to victory in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. On the coaching side, Bruce Pearl, Jon Scheyer, Todd Golden, and Lindsay Gottlieb are all Jewish coaches who have found success in March Madness.
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Jewish history with basketball
Basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891 at a Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). While the YMCA promoted the game to its Christian membership, it excluded millions of immigrants, primarily Eastern European Jews and Southern European Catholics. However, basketball itself was accessible, and these groups found it an ideal way to demonstrate their assimilation.
In the early 20th century, basketball became popular among Jewish immigrant children in cities like Boston, Cleveland, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York, where half of the Jews in the US lived by 1920. The sport was easily played in an urban setting and required little equipment, making it a common sport in settlement houses and communal institutions. Jewish youth in New York City played basketball in playgrounds and schoolyards, and all-Jewish teams were formed, with players wearing jerseys with their names written in Hebrew.
Jewish basketball teams were all the rage in the early 20th century, and the sport was referred to as a "Jewish sport." Many of basketball's early stars were Jewish, including Nat Holman, Ossie Schectman, Sammy Kaplan, Dolph Schayes, Moe Spahn, and Max Zaslofsky. Jews played a vital role in the start of the NBA, with Ossie Schectman of the New York Knicks scoring the first basket in NBA history in 1946.
Jewish prominence in basketball helped the game spread, and Jewish coaches and owners played a significant role in the sport's development. Nat Holman, who coached at CCNY and played for the Original Celtics, a former settlement house team, is credited with popularizing basketball throughout the country in the 1920s. The Celtics' success convinced promoters of the sport's commercial appeal, leading to the formation of the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1925. Jews also filled key positions in the NBA's administration, such as Maurice Podoloff, the league's first president, and Arnold "Red" Auerbach, one of the league's first Jewish coaches.
Basketball was an important part of the larger story of American Jews during the first half of the 20th century. It provided an opportunity for Jews to join the mainstream and demonstrate their belonging in a country where immigration was a burning issue. While Jews faced institutional antisemitism and discrimination in other sports, basketball allowed them to become American on their terms.
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Frequently asked questions
Basketball has a deep-rooted history with Judaism. Jews were crucial to the development of college and professional basketball during the first half of the 20th century, especially in New York. While there are few Jewish players at the highest levels today, the sport owes much of its development to its roots in Jewish neighbourhoods.
Yes, there are several famous Jewish basketball players, including:
- Ryan Turell, the first Orthodox Jew selected in the G League draft
- Domantas Sabonis, Lithuanian-American NBA star who is embracing Judaism
- Amari Bailey, rising basketball star whose Jewish background was confirmed by his agent
- David Blatt, Israeli Premier Basketball League player and coach
- Omri Casspi, Israeli NBA player
Yes, some stadiums in the US offer kosher food options, including:
- Air Canada Centre in Toronto (home of the Toronto Raptors)
- TD BankNorth Garden in Boston (home of the Boston Celtics)
- Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
Basketball teaches important lessons about trust, selflessness, and adapting to changing circumstances. These lessons can be applied to Jewish traditions and stories, such as the need to find a way forward during challenging times.
