I had the chance to speak with 2012 graduate Zack Rosen today, a day after he announced that he signed a contract with Israeli team Hapoel Holon. He's very excited about playing pro ball, but he was sure to clarify that his going to Israel was not a sign that he has given up his dream to play in the NBA.
"By no means am I surrendering," he said.
Rosen didn't want to play a waiting game, and he knew that was happening with NBA teams. So before it was too late, he signed a one-year deal with Hapoel Holon. Since it's just a one-year contract, ending when the season does in May, Rosen could then opt to return to the United States to continue pursuing his ultimate goal. He can attend mini-camps and play in summer leagues, just as he did this summer, and again make a decision based on the interest.
Rosen has been to Israel only once, but it was the experience of a lifetime as he participated in the Maccabi Games for the U.S. It was also enough to make him want to return. Since the summer after his freshman year at Penn, he's wanted to go back and play professionally. Both sides expressed interest before Rosen finally signed his deal.
When Rosen arrives in Israel — Holon is a suburb of Tel Aviv — he will begin training camp for a month and a half. He will also begin making Aliyah, a process which grants citizenship to Jews and will allow his team to sign another American player. But making Aliyah is also a religious and spiritual commitment. Rosen said he won't make Aliyah for just basketball reasons: "It's a good thing and something I've wanted," he said.
He won't be alone in Israel, despite the seven-hour time difference. His dad has a half-sister who lives near Tel Aviv. Penn grad Sarah Friedman is also playing soccer in Tel Aviv and has already reached out to him.
And the fans? "Absolutely sick," he said. According to Rosen, the league is getting better and better, and he likes that his team is up-and coming. From what he knows about the fans and atmosphere, he compared it to Cameron Indoor."Part of [that fandom] is the soccer culture ... it infiltrates into basketball."
While Rosen had a lot of options once he chose to play overseas, it ultimately came down to a gut decision. "I liken it to college recruiting ... There are no perfect decisions," he said. But he liked the coach and his reputation and feels like he made the best decision. In the end, though, above all else, he's a rookie again.
"It's kind of like starting over, you have a clean slate, your reputation is sidelined."
Knowing Rosen, it shouldn't take too long to adjust and create a new reputation for himself.
Man, I am so disappointed in the Sixers. Zack's too proud to say it but he got teased--the Sixers talked the talk how much they liked him, ultimately they let him walk, having given him a limited forum in Orlando.
Shame on you, Sixers. He deserved a fall camp shot. Not the token shot he got in Orlando. He deserved the chance to go head to head against the best, to run a team and show what he could do in camps with some consistent playing time.
Zack's value, his particular "greatness," isn't such that it will surface in meagerly doled-out minutes. He isn't spectacular, and he isn't going to do spectacular things, or show what he does best, in brief exhibitions.
His impact requires, literally, ample playing time to emerge in the form of the control he takes of the floor, the tone and leadership he sets on the floor, and the intangible assets he contributes that aren't measurable in sound-bite appearances.
What a shame the Sixers stiffed him.
Megan -- Thank you for the contribution. I appreciated the refresher course (RC) on some of the customs within Judiasm.
With regards to the salient contribution from the esteemed StevenBecker -- I wonder how much is truly on the 76ers and how much was on Rosen himself. Did he do something to prevent his own success? I would think not, but one never knows. Perhaps what happened in Orlando will spur him on and bring out his best, as Megan suggests is the approach Rosen is taking with his Israeli squad.
Go Zack. And Bravo to Megan for the crisp reporting!
Steve, I agree with what you're saying about what the Sixers said, but when it comes down to it, had Zack performed at a higher level in practices and in games, he'd probably still be in Philadelphia. Sure, while Rosen does take great control of the floor with more minutes, one of the other things that he did, especially this past season for Penn, was come up huge when they needed him most. He had the opportunity to do this in the summer games, especially when he ended up with more time because of injuries to others. It didn't help that his buzzer-beating 3 to win a game didn't find the bottom of the net. He simply didn't do what he needed to in order to command an NBA contract.
Nonetheless, I'll be following closely Rosen's overseas career and look forward to seeing what he can do this season and next summer to earn a spot on an NBA roster.
Jay -- Thank you for the excellent contribution. I concur with your assessment.
If Rosen had played better, he would NOT be signed with the Israeli squad. But that is ancient history.
We all wish Rosen the best in the Jewish homeland (JHL)
FOJL
I havent seen much about this in the Phila papers. I would have thought that Jonothon Tannenwalt would have posted something about this, but he hasnt. For whatever reason, Jonothon has been MIA or AWOL on many topics this summer. I find this quite disappointing as normally he is ahead of the curve.
I defer to Jay and FOJL. You guys are right. I am probably wrong. Zack needed to kick some serious ass at Portsmouth AND Orlando, and apparently he just didn't do it, bottom line. Was very solid at Portsmouth.
Undistinguished in Orlando, albeit with less than the forum he'd have probably liked. Still, Jay is spot-on. You seize the opps you're given, however limited. He didn't sufficient to warrant more NBA interest.
Thanks, fellas, for sobering me up.
Steven -- As always, your contributions are appreciated, encouraged, and respected. On the Rosen Orlando front, his performance didnt warrant a repeat engagement.
Hello Israel.