With rookies Danny Wolf and Ben Saraf, the Nets became the first NBA team with two Israelis on the roster.
That means Saturday’s tilt vs. Hapoel Jerusalem isn’t just the preseason opener, but likely to attract added attention, for better or worse.
With some angered by Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, there is a chance for protests or demonstrations outside Barclays Center. But both Wolf and Saraf will look to block out any distractions and focus on making their NBA debuts successful.
“Yeah, I mean, that’s all it’s about. It’s keeping the main thing, the main thing,” Wolf replied to a question from the Post. “I only can control what I can control, and I don’t have any say or thought as to really what’s going to happen outside of the game. And I’ll leave that to be, and I’ll just focus on the game as best I can.”
This marks the second time Brooklyn will host an Israeli team in the last three years, with Saraf saying he knows a number of their players.
Wolf, 21, holds both U.S. and Israeli passports. Saraf, 19, was born in South Africa but raised in Israel. Neither have served in the Israeli military, though sources told the Post that the latter’s sister does.
It’s that ongoing military action on the other side of the world — and the presence of an Israeli team in Barclays — that could conceivably spark some protests outside the building.
“We do expect some,” one highly-placed Nets source familiar with their security apparatus told the Post. “We’re approaching the game like any other preseason event, but are prepared for any disruptions.”
As Israel pushes further into Gaza, the UN Human Rights Commission declared that they’ve committed genocide, and international sporting bodies are mulling banning Israeli teams.
With President Donald Trump having given Hamas until Sunday to accept his peace plan or face “all Hell,” they agreed to some parts on Friday.
Rookie Drake Powell, who was set back by knee tendinopathy, won’t play against Hapoel Jerusalem but is expected to debut next week at the NBA China Games in Macau, either Oct. 10 or 12.
Egor Demin is still working up towards contact drills and coach Jordi Fernandez was noncommittal about the lottery pick’s timeline as he recovers from a tear in his plantar fascia.