NBA GETS FIRST ISRAELI PLAYER

OTHER PLAYERS HAVE BEEN DRAFTED AND PLAYED IN TRAINING CAMP, BUT IT LOOKS AS IF YOTAM HALPERIN COULD BE THE FIRST TO SEE REGULAR SEASON PLAYING TIME.

Report: Sonics to make G Halperin NBA's first Israeli (ESPN)
Guard Yotam Halperin is believed to be close to signing a deal with the Seattle SuperSonics, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post, which would make him the NBA's first Israeli player. Halperin, who had signed with the Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv, played with Seattle during their summer league, much to the ire of the Israeli National Team, which was concerned about his level of fatigue.

The 22-year-old's agent -- an American -- was expected to arrive in Israel with his contract Monday. Friends close to Halperin have said recently that no deal was certain, either with the Sonics or Maccabi. Halperin has said in past interviews that he would prefer to wait for developments with the Sonics or other European teams before finalizing matters with Maccabi. The Sonics chose Halperin with the 53rd pick in June's draft.