It is not just about him. Ryan Turell is the same person as Brian Flores who is trying to put a greater focus on equal treatment of minorities in the league. The principle of accepting everyone at a certain skill threshold, no matter their race or religion, is central to both.
Turell wants to play in the NBA and forgo his final season at the New York City Division III school to do so.
Ryan Turell is an Orthodox Jew, and he would be the first to openly identify from the strict sect of Judaism to play in the best basketball league in the world. The pursuit of landing on an NBA roster will be difficult, but it is the most significant.
Playing in a lower classification. Turell's draft stock won't be affected by having less exposure to the American public. If you can ball, you can make a lot of money doing so. His production for the Maccabees will help move the needle from being a can't-miss prospect to having zero NBA future. The NBA draft class is full of Division-I heavy hitters, overseas elites and former prep stars applying their trade in the G-League. Turell is a small fish in a big pond.
Turell was a fish in a tank. He is the leading scorer in college basketball in all divisions. He shoots better from 3-point range than every Division I player. He plans to continue draining shots from beyond the arc while playing professionally, and told commentators he would do it while wearing a yarmulke.
Being the first Orthodox Jew in the NBA would mean the world to me, and a dream come true.
Turell's quote hits the bullseye of why his journey will mean so much. Representation is important for all kinds. The differences in lead characters were highlighted in the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Moon Knight, the superhero whose father is a rabbi in the comics, will be on Disney+ later this month.
According to the research center, there are 5.8 million American Jews, which is 2.5% of the U.S. adult population. 17 percent of American Jews between the ages of 18 and 29 identify as Orthodox. That sect of this country has someone who worships like them trying to play in the NBA. Orthodox Judaism principles include a daily study of the Torah and separation of men and women in the synagogue. Turell is a dominating college basketball player. It is an Orthodox value not to work or travel during the Sabbath, a weekly occurrence from sundown on Friday to Saturday. Turell said he plans on walking to the gym and playing on Shabbat.
It's satisfying to have Turell try to live out his NBA dream, too. One of the largest Jewish-rooted universities on the planet combines general course work with the study of the Torah to demonstrate their core values. The student population is mostly Jewish, but all are welcome.
Turell is a longshot to make the NBA. He is projected as a shooting guard at the next level. His shooting ability allows him to enter a space coveted by NBA teams. Every sharpshooter thinks they can pull off shots like Curry does. Turell is one of the few who can.
Another metric pro scout will love that he is a winner. During his time at Yeshiva, the school won the Skyline Conference championship and won 50 consecutive games. The streak was extended by the Pandemic. The Maccabees must win that many in a row. Turell has a long way to go to get a spot in the NBA, as no mock drafts have him going in the June draft. The conclusion of the NCAA Tournament is when most pre-draft activities take place. Several athletes from Division III have made it to the NBA. The Miami Heat's Duncan Robinson is one of the most notable recent professionals.
Turell's presence is guaranteed to make a difference and that's why it's nice to see him not conforming to his beliefs. He was given a pity contract for a nice story. There is too much money at stake. He will have earned it if he suits up professionally. It might be difficult to focus on himself because of his religious standing, even if he were to be the first Orthodox Jew in the NBA. He is ready to carry that load, speaking openly about his experience.
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