Putting the ball in Jerusalem’s court

The addition of NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire to Hapoel’s roster looks like it might be ‘bashert.’

By JERRY MITTLEMAN
Amar’e Stoudemire speaks to journalists after a training session, October 7 (photo credit: THOMAS COEX / AFP)
Amar’e Stoudemire speaks to journalists after a training session, October 7
(photo credit: THOMAS COEX / AFP)
JERUSALEM’S ANNUAL Media Day at the two-year-old state-of-the-art Payis Arena in mid-September drew greater attention than usual thanks to the presence of Amar’e Stoudemire, the former NBA star who signed with the team over the summer.
The addition of Stoudemire, as well as the recent hiring of highly regarded Italian coach Simone Pianigiani is part of team owner Ori Allon’s aggressive campaign to overtake arch rival Maccabi Tel Aviv as the country’s top team and make Jerusalem not just the nation’s capital, but a basketball powerhouse.
The great majority of American basketball players who appear in the Israeli Super League fit a few predicatble profiles. Most possess sub-NBA skills and arrive after decent college careers and various stints in other foreign leagues. Then, there are usually a handful of marginal NBA talents, who make it to Israel and other European leagues after a brief trial in the big time. Occasionally, a player arrives near the end of a decent NBA career, but it’s almost unheard of for a true NBA star to appear in our league, even in the twilight of his career. The example of Tom Chambers comes readily to mind. The former Seattle Supersonic and Phoenix Sun All-Star ended his career with one year at Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 1995-6 season.
In that sense, Stoudemire, who will be playing for Hapoel Jerusalem this season after signing a two-year contract with the team, is an exception.
“The signing of Stoudemire is a bonus for Hapoel Jerusalem. A player of his caliber and pedigree usually signs with a club with much deeper pockets,” veteran basketball journalist and television analyst Eli Sahar told The Jerusalem Report.
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s annual budget is more than double that of Hapoel Jerusalem’s, not to mention that Stoudemire turned down offers from NBA teams, as well as from the Chinese professional league.
“Stoudemire’s signing is also a bonus for Israeli basketball. It makes beating Hapoel a challenge and might attract some higher caliber foreigners to play here,” Sahar added.
Stoudemire is arguably the highest profile player ever to join the Israeli league. His arrival has aroused hope in the nation’s capital that Hapoel can reclaim the league title it relinquished last season.
Six years ago, Stoudemire made a highly publicized trip to Israel after discovering that he has Jewish roots on his mother’s side. He returned in the summer of 2013 to participate in the Maccabiah Games as a member of the Canadian basketball team’s coaching staff.
During his stay, he held basketball clinics throughout the country, visited several schools and photo-opped with Shimon Peres. The late president reportedly pressured him to play for the national team.
He has since deepened his connection to Israel by making several visits. He has also been studying with a clergyman from the Hebrew Israelite tradition; and, at his wedding four years ago, he wore a kippa and a prayer shawl.
Stoudemire’s interest in playing for Hapoel Jerusalem intensified when Allon purchased the team three years ago with Stoudemire as part of the ownership. Now that he is a player, he has since been obligated to sell his shares in the team in adherence with league rules.
On Media Day, Stoudemire displayed a calm warmth and humility that’s often uncharacteristic of NBA stars. With his 2.11 meter (6 ft 10 in) frame stretched out in a comfortable chair, he patiently gave individual interviews to a long line of waiting journalists.
Just what is this big guy doing here? It’s a question many people are still asking.
Allon, a dynamic 35-year-old hi-tech whiz and real estate mogul, claims he always knew that one day Stoudemire would play in Israel.
“From the beginning, I could see how committed Amar’e was to Hapoel and his desire to help Jerusalem, a city that he loves, through sports. It was clear to both of us that one day he would come here to play when he felt that the time was right for him. I’m very happy that he decided to come this summer when he is in excellent physical condition and can make a meaningful contribution to the team,” Allon wrote in an email to The Report.
After signing with the team, Stoudemire moved to Jerusalem with his wife and four children who are all enrolled in school or preschool.
At the moment, he is the only Hebrew speaker in the household.
“I decided this would be the best way to build on my basketball legacy, by playing in Jerusalem, which is a city I love and helping them win a championship. On a personal level, I am hoping to continue to be a more spiritual person, and when basketball permits, I study Scripture once a week with a study group,” Stoudemire told The Report on Media Day.
One might say Stoudemire’s move to Jerusalem was bashert, the Yiddish word for “destined” or just “meant to be.”
At age 33, his illustrious NBA career has been winding down over the past four seasons as a result of age and injuries. He was a six-time All-Star (team selection) from 2004-11, mostly as a member of the Phoenix Suns.
When Steve Nash – another All-Star – joined the Suns in 2004, he teamed up with Stoudemire to form a lethal pick-and-roll combination. Stoudemire’s height and agility near the basket was the perfect complement to Nash’s playmaking wizardry. This resulted in a career-high season for Stoudemire, who averaged 26 points per game, as well as a whopping 37 in the Playoffs.
The following season, however, was the beginning of a plague of serious injuries that would hinder Stoudemire off and on through the remainder of his NBA career.
He missed almost the entire 2005-6 season due to knee surgery and a lengthy recovery, but bounced back to appear in five consecutive All-Star games, the final one as a member of the New York Knicks. His last five seasons in the NBA, which included short stints with the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks, were characterized by diminished skills and another slew of injuries, affecting his availability and production.
Last June, Stoudemire announced his retirement after a 14-year NBA career and shortly thereafter signed with Hapoel Jerusalem.
The style of play in European basketball is different from the NBA’s and some of the rules are different as well. So, despite Stoudemire’s achievements and vast experience, he needs to make adjustments. But there is no doubt about his dedication and ability to mold with new teammates. His new teammate Isaac Rosefelt told The Report, “I grew up watching him and tried to mold my game after his. I even bought a pair of his basketball shoes, but so far I’ve been too embarrassed to tell him.
“Amar’e is extremely hard-working and eager to learn. He is totally professional and approaches everything with poise and patience both on and off the court, and this has rubbed off on all of us.”
Rosefelt added that Stoudemire is extremely humble. “He has said to me that he feels ‘like a rookie here’ and even accepts advice from me because I’ve been in Israel longer.”
Stoudemire himself admits, “I’m working on a skill set that’s an addition to the skill set I already have and I’ve been spending a lot of time practicing after the regular practice sessions.”
Hapoel veteran Lior Mizrachi echoed Rosefelt’s sentiments about Stoudemire. “He is an amazing person both on and off the court. He is incredibly positive and ready to learn and, for me, it’s been a great honor playing with him.”
Still, despite all the hoopla and lofty goals, Hapoel Jerusalem remains a work in progress.
Its roster is basically a new one, and its foreign coach is getting used to Israel.
Pianigiani has led his teams to Italian League titles six times, and he has also coached Italy’s national squad for six years, leading his teams to two Euroleague Final Four appearances. Still, he harbors no illusions.
“We are just beginning as a team. I came here because of the long-term goals of first winning the Eurocup, then entering the Euroleague and becoming a special team in Europe, but right now our goal is to improve every day,” Pianigiani said.
On the addition of Stoudemire, Pianigiani said, “I had a special feeling about Amar’e from the beginning because of his desire to help the organization and the desire he shows on the court. He is truly professional and his experience and work ethic is a great model for the younger players.”
Stoudemire, for all his skill and ability, has never been a player to carry a team by himself.
His success will depend on Hapoel having a playmaker who can deliver the ball to him so he can be effective.
“It all starts with the team,” said Pianigiani. “If the team plays well together, then Amar’e will do well.”
In preseason exhibition games against quality European competition, Hapoel lacked cohesiveness.
Teammates looked unfamiliar with one another while playing for the new coach.
During an October 1 game, however, the squad seemed like a different team entirely.
They dominated Maccabi Tel Aviv, winning by 16 points to capture the Winner’s Cup, which they hope will be the first of many titles. They played well together on offense and, although Stoudemire’s play wasn’t dominant, he functioned well in his role with the team.
Hapoel followed this up a week later by thoroughly outclassing Bnei Herzliya at home with an 81-61 score, in its Israel Basketball League season opener. It was apparent that Stoudemire is still trying to learn the ways of European basketball and find his place within his team’s offense. He managed a meager three points on only three field goal attempts.
However, he was dominant on defense, providing a looming deterrent close to the basket.
It was also apparent that he has already established himself as a fan favorite, capturing wild applause when he takes to the court.
Whether or not Hapoel succeeds in recapturing the league title with Stoudemire on the team, the eyes of Israeli basketball are definitely on Jerusalem.


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