NBA’s Omri Casspi said to ink deal with Memphis Grizzlies

After season with champions Golden State Warriors, ESPN reports Israeli hoopster agreed to 1-year contract with his 7th team in the league

By Michael Bachner

You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

1 July 2018, 9:25 am

Edit

Michael Bachner is a news editor at The Times of Israel

Omri Casspi #18 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets on November 4, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. (Courtesy Golden State Warriors; Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Israeli basketball player Omri Casspi has reportedly reached a one-year deal with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, his seventh team in 10 seasons in the US league.

Following a season with champions Golden State Warriors, who waived Casspi before the playoffs, ESPN reported the deal Sunday, citing NBA sources.

Casspi appeared in 53 games in his eight months with the Warriors last season, including seven starts, averaging 5.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and one assist in 14 minutes per game.

The Warriors dropped the forward in April due to injuries, dashing the hopes of his Israeli fans to see the first-ever player from the country in the playoff games.

Casspi wasn’t able to join another team until the end of the season due to NBA rules.

The Yavne-native Casspi has played for six other teams since he became the first Israeli to play in the NBA in 2009. He previously played for the Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors.

Casspi was a member of the championship Maccabi Tel Aviv team in Israel before making himself available for the NBA draft.

AP contributed to this report.