Sacramento Kings forward Omri Casspi of Israel. (AP/Tony Gutierrez) (AP/Tony Gutierrez)
Omri Casspi

Israeli NBA player Omri Casspi will visit Israel this week with seven other NBA players in a tour organized by a foundation Casspi has formed that seeks to fight the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

National Basketball Association (NBA) player Omri Casspi is visiting Israel this week, but it is no ordinary homecoming for the Sacramento Kings forward, as he is joined by seven other NBA players in a tour organized by a foundation Casspi has formed that seeks to fight the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Visiting with Casspi are his Sacramento Kings teammates DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay, and Caron Butler, as well as Chandler Parsons of the Dallas Mavericks, Iman Shumpert of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tyreke Evans of the New Orleans Pelicans, and Alan Anderson of the Washington Wizards.

NBA Player Relations Director Roger Mason, who played with Israel’s Hapoel Jerusalem franchise during the 2005-06 season, joins the players, as is Nick U’Ren, special assistant to the Golden State Warriors’ head coach. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has given the initiative his personal blessing.

During their visit, the players will be the guests of two major events. The first event will be hosted by Hapoel Jerusalem and the second by Maccabi Tel Aviv, scheduled for Sunday and Wednesday, respectively. The players will also tour Israel and attend several charity events organized by NBA Cares, the league’s global community outreach initiative.

By: Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org