Jewish Heritage Night with the Warriors
The Golden State Warriors will host their 10th annual Jewish Heritage Night on Thursday, December 16, against the Phoenix Suns – organized by the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, Chabad of San Francisco, and Everybody Is A Star Foundation.
The Warriors, defending NBA champions and owners of an undefeated record (19-0 so far this season!), have won four consecutive Jewish Heritage Night games, including last season’s 128-108 rout of the Sacramento Kings on the seventh night of Chanukah.
Each Jewish Heritage Night ticket holder can attend a special pregame tailgate party at 5:00 pm and will receive a souvenir cap adorned with a Warriors logo inside a Star of David.
But what do Jews have to do with basketball anyway?
Well, a lot actually….
The 1930s and ‘40s saw scores of Jewish players, champion teams, and proud Hebrew athleticism.
Did You Know? The first basket in NBA history was scored in 1946 by Ossie Schectman of the New York Knicks. Schectman, who passed away in 2013, plays a central role in David Vyorst’s 2008 documentary, “The First Basket,” which highlights early Jewish basketball history (here’s a trailer).
Check out some more history here:
- Tablet – Jump-Shot Jews
- My Jewish Learning – Basketball and the Jews
- The Jewish Week – When Basketball was Jewish
Be sure to follow the news about the Warriors’ Jewish Heritage Night with the hashtag #JewishDubNation on social media. For those of you who are fortunate enough to attend, come say hi! I’ll be there as well. It’s sure to be a fun night!
Sam Sorkin is a contributing writer for Vox Media and a staff writer for SB Nation’s Golden State of Mind blog. He served on the board and Leadership Council of the North Peninsula Jewish Teen Foundation, and currently sits on its Alumni Council. Sam is a senior at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, California.
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