Stoudemire with Peres at President's Residence
Photo: Haim Zach
Amare Stoudemire gets Israel invite
President Peres asks NBA star to play for Israeli national basketball team due to his ties to Judaism
The president of Israel
has invited New York Knicks star Amare Stoudemire to play for the country's national basketball team
because of his ties to Judaism.
Jewish Connection
Arik Henig
After tweeting 'I'm Jewish', NBA star arrives in Israel, visits Masada, Dead Sea and Yad Vashem with small entourage
Shimon Peres met with Stoudemire on Thursday to discuss the player's charity efforts. Stoudemire, who says he has "Hebrew roots," has traveled to Israel before and Peres urged him to help the national team.
When two giants meet (Photo: Haim Zach)
The six-time NBA All-Star already has significant ties to Israeli basketball.
Last month, he joined a group looking to buy Hapoel Jerusalem, a team in Israel's top league.
Stoudemire is in Israel to coach the Canadian basketball team at the Maccabiah Games, a competition for Jewish athletes.
Stoudemire won a bronze medal with the United States at the 2004 Olympics but has not played for the national team since 2007.
