Sports network to feature a preseason match against an Israeli sports team
The Brooklyn Nets' 2025 preseason is shaping up to be a significant one, with the team drafting Israeli citizens Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf in the first round, marking a historical moment as this is the first time Jewish players have been picked by one team in the same draft round.
The Nets have a busy schedule ahead, with a preseason game against Hapoel Jerusalem scheduled for October 4, 2025, at the Barclays Center. This game continues a tradition of preseason matchups with Hapoel Jerusalem, and while the geopolitical context in the region is sensitive, the significance of this specific sporting event remains focused on basketball and player connections.
In addition to the upcoming game against Hapoel Jerusalem, the Nets will also face the Suns in two preseason games in Macao on October 10 and 12. The team previously hosted an Israeli team, Maccabi Ra'anana, for an exhibition game in the 2023-24 preseason, although the location of that game was not specified.
The Nets selected Ben Saraf with the 26th pick in the June draft, and minutes later drafted Danny Wolf at No. 27. These two players will be the second pair of Israeli teammates in the NBA, following Sacramento’s Jordan Farmar and Omri Casspi in 2016.
The Nets' preseason schedule also includes a return to China, as they will play an exhibition game against Maccabi Ra'anana, marking the NBA's return to China for the first time since 2019.
A French-Saudi-led conference is taking place this week at the United Nations, calling for a rekindling of the two-state solution. However, there is no indication that the political situation in Israel and Gaza, or the UN's diplomatic efforts, have increased the importance or changed the framing of the Nets' preseason games.
The news about the Nets' preseason game against Hapoel Jerusalem was first reported by Basketball News Australia. The upcoming game may be different from the previous one, but more information about that is not currently available. Regardless, it promises to be an exciting time for the Nets and their fans as they gear up for the 2025-26 NBA season.
The Brooklyn Nets' preseason game against Hapoel Jerusalem, a tradition of preseason matchups, will be a significant sports-analysis focus due to the presence of Israeli teammates Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, the first Jewish players selected by one team in the same draft round. The upcoming NBA preseason will also involve games against the Suns, Maccabi Ra'anana, and potentially Maccabi Ra'anana once again in China, making it a multinational sports event.
