NBA Players from Israel: Full List (2026)
8 NBA players have come from Israel, by Wikipedia’s count (including 4 foreign-born Israelis). Our table below names 7: players born outside the United States with a tie to Israel, plus current players listed with its nationality. As of October 2026, 4 are on an NBA roster: Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers), Ben Saraf (Brooklyn Nets), Danny Wolf (Brooklyn Nets) and Emanuel Sharp (Sacramento Kings).
NBA players from Israel at a glance
| NBA players, all time | 8 (Wikipedia count); 7 named in our table |
|---|---|
| On NBA rosters, October 2026 | 4: Deni Avdija, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf, Emanuel Sharp |
| First to play in the NBA | Omri Casspi (2009) |
| Longest NBA career | Omri Casspi (10 seasons) |
| Centers | 1: Danny Wolf |
| 7-foot prospects in our database | 1 (see them) |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Every NBA player from Israel
Sorted by NBA debut, earliest first. Status is as of October 2026, before the 2026-27 regular season, so it includes players on training camp deals.
| Player | Position | NBA seasons | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omri Casspi | Forward | 2009-2019 | Former player | |
| Gal Mekel | Guard | 2013-2014 | Former player | |
| T. J. Leaf | Forward | 2017-2021 | Former player | |
| Deni Avdija | Forward | 2020 to present | Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Ben Saraf | Guard | 2025 to present | Brooklyn Nets | Born in South Africa |
| Danny Wolf | Center | 2025 to present | Brooklyn Nets | Also listed with the United States nationality |
| Emanuel Sharp | Guard | Rookie in 2026-27 | Sacramento Kings | Also listed with the United States nationality |
Players from Israel in the NBA in 2026-27
- Deni Avdija: forward, 6’8″, age 25, Portland Trail Blazers. Entering NBA season 7; drafted in 2020, round 1, pick 9.
- Ben Saraf: guard, 6’6″, age 20, Brooklyn Nets. Entering NBA season 2; drafted in 2025, round 1, pick 26.
- Danny Wolf: center, 6’11”, age 22, Brooklyn Nets. Entering NBA season 2; drafted in 2025, round 1, pick 27.
- Emanuel Sharp: guard, 6’3″, age 22, Sacramento Kings. Rookie; drafted in 2026, round 2, pick 15.
NBA centers from Israel
1 of the 7 players in the table played center or forward/center: Danny Wolf (2025 to present). Our database also lists 1 young player from Israel at 7 feet or taller.
7-Foot Prospects from Israel
One active player from Israel is listed at 7 feet or taller and born in 2001 or later in our 7-Foot Prospect Database, last checked on 9 October 2026:
- David Musis: 7’1″ (216 cm), born in 2008, Florida Atlantic (NCAA D1)
See every player, with filters by country, in the 7-Foot Prospect Database.
Player profiles from our archive
This section was first published in 2018. Teams and career details in it are as of that time; the tables above show where things stand in October 2026.
Israel’s basketball tradition is long and exciting. In a sense, they are unique, not in how they play basketball, but in the fact that their basketball teams have competed in two continents, Asia and Europe. Due to political problems with their neighbors, they were forced to compete as part of FIBA Europe even though they are in Asia.
Their national basketball team had great success on basketball tournaments both in Asia and Europe. On Asian soil, they won two gold medals in 1966 and 1974, and a silver one in 1970. After they started to compete in Europe, their most significant success happened at the Eurobasket in 1979 when they won the silver medal. Other than that they have twice qualified for the FIBA world cup and once for the Olympic Games basketball tournament.
Israel NBA Players:
Omri Casspi
Casspi was born June 22, 1998, in Holon, Israel. He stands at 6’ 9” and can cover both small and power forward. He started his professional basketball career as a youngster in the famous Maccabi Tel Aviv. His second club in Israel, before moving to the NBA was Hapoel Galil Elyon. He went in the NBA through the 2008 Draft when he was picked as 23rd by the Sacramento Kings. Then he became the first Israeli to enter the NBA. Since then he had played in eight NBA clubs. Currently, he is part of the Memphis Grizzlies roster.
TJ Leaf
Leaf was born in Tel Aviv, April 30, 1997. He is 6’ 10” and plays as a power forward. He started playing basketball in the high school where his father, Brad Leaf coached him. Before signing up for the 2014 draft, he played one season college basketball for UCLA. In 2017, he was drafted by the Indiana Pacers as 18th pick during the first round. Almost instantly he was sent to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the NBA G League. There he averaged 23 points and 8 rebounds per game before he was recalled to the Pacers.
Frequently asked questions
How many NBA players are from Israel?
Wikipedia counts 8 (including 4 foreign-born Israelis). Our table names 7 players with a tie to Israel.
Which players from Israel are in the NBA in 2026-27?
As of October 2026: Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers), Ben Saraf (Brooklyn Nets), Danny Wolf (Brooklyn Nets) and Emanuel Sharp (Sacramento Kings).
Who was the first NBA player from Israel?
Omri Casspi, who debuted in 2009.
Which centers from Israel have played in the NBA?
Danny Wolf.
Are there 7-foot prospects from Israel?
Yes. Our 7-Foot Prospect Database lists 1: David Musis.
More guides: NBA players by country. Scouting reports: NBA center prospects.
Sources: Wikipedia, List of NBA players born outside the United States (revision of 3 October 2026); RealGM NBA player list (9 October 2026); Low Key NBA 7-Foot Prospect Database. U.S.-born players with family ties to Israel may be missing from the table. Last checked 9 October 2026.
