There just few professional Israeli athletes, but the country just gained arguably its most notable one in nearly 71 year history.

Earlier this week, FORMER 6x NBA All-Star and 2002 9th overall draft pick Amarโ€™e Stoudemire was granted Israeli citizenship. Per The Canadian Jewish News, the 36-year-old received his official identity card in a ceremony at the Interior Ministry on Wednesday. 

 

 

Mazal Tov! ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ Welcome Israelโ€™s newest citizen, former NBA star turned Israeli basketball player, Amarโ€™e Stoudemire. The new Israeli posted this on his social media: โ€œHistory being made !! Bโ€H. Dual citizen ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ. Date : 3.13.19 I'm filled with emotions right now. This is a dream come true for me, and i have many people to thank today. First and foremost i would like thank God. I extend my highest gratitude to the Minister of interior affairs Mr. Arie Der'ei, the way you understood the sincerity of my intentions is admirable. May Ha'shem/ G-d bless you and your family. To the Minister of Culture and Sports, Mrs. Miri Regev, i understand how much effort you put in to advance sport and sport culture in Israel and i appreciate your efforts in allowing me to be a part of the Israeli sporting nation. I will do my best to help your mission on and off the court. a Special thank you to the new Mayor of Jerusalem Mr. Moshe Leon, i know you had a lot to contribute, i thank you and wish you all the success with you new job. last but not least, i want to thank the the city of Jerusalem, the Hapoel Jerusalem fans and team for letting me in to your family. Mey Has'hem bless us all. Yalla Hapoel! #StoudemireFamilyโ€ ๐Ÿ“ท @amareisreal โœˆ๏ธ @nefeshbnefesh ๐ŸŒŽ Israel ๐Ÿ“ฐ Everyone Has A Story, What's Yours? ๐Ÿ“ง editor@humansofjudaism.com ๐Ÿ“ฑ www.humansofjudaism.com #โƒฃ #humansofjudaism

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Stoudemire has publicly expressed his love for Israel over the years and has been a member of member of the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team of the Israeli Premiere League and the Basketball Champions League since 2016. The Lake Wales, native Florida identifies with the Hebrew Israelites, African Americans, who believe they are connected to the biblical Israelites and observe Jewish holidays. The Canadian Jewish News also reported that he told HBO Sports reporter Jon Frankel in 2018 that he is โ€œin the processโ€ of converting to Judaism.

 

Though not in his prime anymore, Stoudemire joins a small list of pro Israeli athletes, most notably Omri Casspi of the Memphis Grizzlies. Stoudemire played 16 years in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks before making the move to the Holy Land.

 

At 36, weโ€™ll see how much more damage heโ€™ll be able to do on the court before he decides to hangโ€™em up and start his next journey in the middle east.

(H/T The Canadian Jewish News)