Omri Casspi – The Pride of Israel

 
Omri Casspi will be the first Israeli to play in the NBA

Everyone knew that the Kings would select an international player in the first round that would carry the hopes of his nation on his back right? Well, that player was not Ricky Rubio as expected, but Omri Casspi. The Kings selected Casspi with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the NBA draft and he will likely become the first Israeli player to play in the NBA provided that he makes the team out of camp. I say that in jest as there was a previous Israeli, Oded Katash, that signed an NBA contract in 1999 with the New York Knicks, but never played in an NBA game due to the lockout that occurred that season.

Casspi stands 6-foot-9 and weighs 225 pounds, which means that he may need to bulk up a little bit for the NBA game. He is being listed as a combo forward, but is more likely to man the small forward position in the NBA. With the selection of Casspi, along with Tyreke Evans and Jon Brockman, the Kings look to address their reputation as a team that is softer than a package of charmin. If toughness is a skill, then Casspi apparently has it in spades as he is a former member of the Israeli military (service is compulsory) and has a reputation for being a basketball player that doesn’t shy away from contact. I love researching a player and reading adjectives such as tough-as-nails, competitive, aggressive, and intense.  Sound like exactly the type of player that the Kings needed to bring into the fold to change the team around and those are all qualities that the Kings lacked last season.

Casspi possesses a lot of qualities other than his toughness that make him a solid NBA prospect. He is athletic and an aggressive slasher to the basket that also moves well without the ball. He is reportedly a hard worker that will put forward his best effort at all times and is very active on both ends of the floor. These are all things the Kings will need him to do in order to see time on the floor at some point. The small forward position will be a logjam on the Kings with Francisco Garcia and Andres Nocioni, a player that Casspi has been compared to, likely to see the bulk of the time at the three. Casspi is only 20 years old however, and time is on his side. Nocioni will be a great mentor for the young Casspi as he learns the NBA game. Casspi will need to work on his shot as his mid-range game is not fully developed and he will need to improve his ball-handling skills and passing in order to see regular time on the floor. These are all things that you would expect to hear about a 20-year-old looking to get his feet wet in the NBA game.

I can’t wait to see what this kid can do on the floor in a Kings uniform.

Here are some youtube clips to keep you busy until the season starts. Enjoy.
Finishing strong on the break
Pre-draft interview compliments of Kings.com
Highlight package compiled by a fan with one of my favorite bands (The Killers) in the background