Domantas Sabonis to join list of Jewish NBA players / News - Basketnews.com

Domantas Sabonis is in the process of converting to Judaism. He has been regularly studying on Zoom with Rabbi Erez Sherman of Sinai Temple, keeps kosher, and observes Passover and Shabbat.

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Sacramento Kings All-Star center Domantas Sabonis is in the process of converting to Judaism, according to his Jewish wife, Shashana Sabonis.

Free throws this season

79%19,8Points made:19,8Accuracy:79,0%Place in standings:3Record max:32Record min:9Most made FTs:De'Aaron FoxTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

"We really haven't talked about it [publicly]," she told jweekly. "He loves [Judaism] and really wants to be a part of it."

Sabonis regularly studies on Zoom with Rabbi Erez Sherman of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.

"After [he had] a triple-double against the Houston Rockets, I get a text, like, 'Hey can we find time to learn?' I'm like, you're for real," Sherman said. "He's always asking questions. He keeps kosher, and when he's in Vilnius, he's going to the kosher butchers to get chicken."

"We keep Passover, we keep Shabbat," Shashana said. "We don't drive, and we do Shabbat dinner every week."

The Sabonises were married by a Reform rabbi in August 2021. They have a year-old son named Tiger, and Shashana is pregnant with their second child.

While there is no official count of the number of NBA players who practice Judaism, some notable Jewish players have played in the league, such as Omri Casspi, Jordan Farmar, and Amar'e Stoudemire. Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija is the current example.

Ryan Turell of the Motor City Cruise is another active Jewish player in the NBA and its developmental G League.

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