Scoring 22 points against the Washington Wizards, he tied the most points scored by any Kings player in his first start since the team moved to Sacramento in 1985.
1988
Omri Moshe Casspi (עומרי משה כספי, born June 22, 1988) is an Israeli former professional basketball player.
He mainly played at the small forward position, but also played at the power forward position.
1999
Not since Oded Kattash agreed to a contract with the New York Knicks in 1999 had an Israeli player come so close to playing in the NBA.
2005
When he was 13, he moved to the Maccabi Tel Aviv youth team, winning the State Youth championship in 2005.
Having previously played for Maccabi Tel Aviv youth team, Casspi made his professional debut at age 17 with Maccabi Tel Aviv during the 2005–06 season.
In his rookie season as a professional player, he had averages of 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game in the Israeli Premier League.
2006
In 2006, Casspi was loaned to Hapoel Galil Elyon for the 2006–07 season, going on to have a breakthrough season behind him.
He averaged 11.1 points and 3.1 rebounds over 28 games.
2007
In April 2007, he scored 14 points for the World Select team at the Nike Hoop Summit in Memphis.
Casspi returned to Maccabi for the 2007–08 season.
2008
The team reached the EuroLeague Finals in 2008.
Casspi received the 2008 Israeli League Sixth Man of the Year award, averaging 10.4 points and 4 rebounds per game.
In 2008, Casspi declared himself eligible for the 2008 NBA draft, but he withdrew before the declaration deadline after failing to receive a first-round draft guarantee from any NBA club.
2009
Casspi 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.
As a rookie, Casspi was chosen to participate in the NBA All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge.
In February 2009, he finished in fourth place in voting for the FIBA Europe Young Men's Player of the Year Award for the 2008–09 season, behind Ricky Rubio, Danilo Gallinari and Kosta Koufos.
Maccabi won a state championship in 2009.
In the same season, Casspi's role in the team increased in the Israeli League, as well as in the EuroLeague.
Over 27 league games, Casspi averaged 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists, all career-highs.
On June 25, 2009, Casspi was selected with the 23rd overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2009 NBA draft, becoming the first Israeli player selected as a first-round draft pick.
On July 10, 2009, he signed a multi-year deal with the Kings.
On October 28, 2009, Casspi made his NBA debut for the Kings against the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 15 points.
On December 16, 2009, Casspi made his first NBA start.
2010
On January 1, 2010, Casspi scored a then career-high 23 points against the Los Angeles Lakers (along with 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 assists) as the Kings lost, 109–108.
On January 2, 2010, he grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds against the Dallas Mavericks (along with 22 points, 1 steal, and 4 assists) as the Kings lost, 99–91.
On January 5, 2010, Casspi set a new career-high with 24 points against the Phoenix Suns (along with 7 rebounds, 1 assist, no turnovers, and 10–19 from the field) as the Kings lost, 113–109.
In February 2010, Casspi was chosen to participate in the NBA All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge, as well as the NBA All-Star Weekend H–O–R–S–E Competition against Kevin Durant and Rajon Rondo.
2011
The Cleveland Cavaliers traded for him in June 2011, and he signed with the Houston Rockets in July 2013.
2014
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.
2017
In February 2017, he was traded to the Pelicans alongside DeMarcus Cousins, and signed with the Warriors during the offseason.
2018
Waived after an April injury, he signed with Memphis in July 2018.
One of the few Jewish players to reach the NBA after Dolph Schayes, Ernie Grunfeld, Danny Schayes and Jordan Farmar and the first Israeli-born, Omri Casspi was born in Holon, Israel.
He was raised in the city of Yavne, Israel.
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 descent.
As an adult, he added the middle name "Moshe" in memory of his grandfather.
As a child, Casspi played for junior programs at Elitzur Yavne and Maccabi Rishon LeZion.
