Back in June when the Brooklyn Nets took Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, it got noticed. Having two players who carry Israeli passports — a first — on an NBA roster made Brooklyn hugely popular in Israel. Searches for the Brooklyn Nets jumped, the Nets site as well as blogs and podcasts got a lot more traffic from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. On the other hand, some of those outraged by what’s happening in Gaza were angered, seeing political meaning.
Since the Draft, Israeli media have started following the two
in Brooklyn. Sport5, the big Israeli sports site, was at the Practice in the Park last weekend, for example…
Then, a month after the Draft, the Nets announced that they would open the 2025 preseason vs. Hapoel Jerusalem in Brooklyn, the interest just intensified. For Saraf and Wolf, it will be even a big deal. Not only will it be their first games as Brooklyn Nets but it will be a game vs. players they know, in Saraf’s case players he grew up with.
“Of course,” Saraf said. “I know the guys, I know the coach, I got some friends over there playing on the team, so it’s going to be great. It’s going to be a great experience for all of us.”
Saraf was born in South Africa but raised in Israel starting at age 3. Wolf was born in Illinois but obtained an Israeli passport while at Yale. Both have played for Israeli national team entries in FIBA youth tournaments, Saraf winning MVP of the FIBA Europe U18 tournament last year. Wolf played for Israel’s U20 team a year earlier winning a silver medal and making the all-tournament first team.
“It’s going to be really special for me,” Saraf said after Tuesday’s practice. Based on his play this summer and in camp, it looks like Saraf is going to get a lot of time on the court. The team’s veterans have raved about the 26th pick. “Guys want to play with him,” one league source told NetsDaily. Jordi Fernandez noted that it would have to be special.
“I would assume so,” Fernández said, suggesting he hasn’t spoken directly yet with the players. “If we would play a Spanish team, it would mean something to me. That’s what I guess.
“But it’s pretty cool that we get to play not just outside the country — like when we’re going to China — but also against a foreign team here; in this case, a team from Jerusalem. So, you know, that tells you how global the NBA is, and how great of a job that the league does, but also the support that we receive from all over the world.”
Saraf and the Nets have shied away from politics in talking about Saturday, but it’s likely there will be some level of protest at the arena. As Israel drives deeper in Gaza and with Hamas refusing to release Israeli hostages, tensions are high in New York. Two weeks ago, the UN Human Rights Commission declared what Israel has done as genocide and international sporting bodies are considering banning Isreali teams. On Friday morning, President Trump set a deadline of Sunday for Hamas to accept his peace plan or face “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas.” Hamas later agreed to some parts of the plan, wants negotiation on others. Uncertain if that satisfied Trump.
The 21-year-old Wolf, who holds both U.S. and Israeli passports, essentially said the situation is beyond his pay grade and that he’s going to be focused on basketball, protests or not.
“Its keeping the main thing, the main thing. I only can control what I can control and I don’t have any say or thought as to whats going to happen outside of the game. I’ll leave that to be and focus on the game as best I can.” he said after Friday’s practice per Brian Lewis.
Neither player has served in the Israeli military. Saraf’s sister does serve, Brian Lewis reported Tuesday.
Whatever goes on outside the arena, political protests are banned inside. No doubt there will be a strong showing from the Israeli community in the city, however.
- Nets’ preseason opener against Israeli club will be so much more for rookie duo – Brian Lewis – New York Post
