Medical staff tend to Golden State Warriors forward Omri Casspi
Medical staff tend to Golden State Warriors forward Omri Casspiצילום: Reuters

Omri Casspi, Israel's first-ever NBA player, was cut from the Golden State Warriors ahead of the playoffs in order to make room for Quinn Cook after Casspi was injured.

Casspi appeared in 53 games (seven starts) this season, averaging 5.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 14.0 minutes per game.

In his ninth season in the best basketball league in the world, Casspi, the first-ever Israeli player for the league, created a storm when he signed no other than the Golden State champion for a minimum contract.

Casspi began his career with the Warriors very successfully and at the beginning of the season he provided several games that led to much praise, both from the professional team and its players and by the local media, and even earned him a place in the top five for a short while.

Casspi did not play with his team Golden State due to the game falling on Yom Kippur last year.

Omri Casspi at Kotel
Omri Casspi at KotelFlash 90

Unfortunately for the Israeli forward, his position waned in the second half of the season, partly because of a nagging thumb injury he'd sustained. It was just when it seemed like Casspi was back for a great game against the Lakers last month that he was immediately injured again, this time in the ankle, at a meet against his former team Sacramento on March 16.

At first it seemed the injury would stop Casspi for only a week, but his absence from the parquet was prolonged, while Quinn Cook, a member of a team who played at the same time at Golden State and a team of the Warriors in the development league, scored a series of excellent games for the Warriors in the NBA and earned his place on the roster, forcing the team to give up one player towards the last line of the season this morning.

Quinn Cook (L)
Quinn Cook (L)Reuters