Ryan Turell, aka Jewish Jordan, May Become the NBA’s First Orthodox Jewish Player

The NBA is about to get a little more orthodox, that’s if Ryan Turrell can find his way into the NBA.  Turell plays for New York’s Yeshiva University, and he’s attempting to become the first Orthodox Jewish player in NBA history. Turell, a 6-7 guard in his Junior year, recorded back-to-back 71 point games at the 2020 NCAA Division III Tournament.

Via LA Times:

Turell’s field goal percentage during the tournament (77%) had attracted national notice that was now destined to be a footnote in some record book, and NBA scouts would have to wait another year to fully evaluate Turell. But as Katz pulled into the BWI departures lane, he assured Turell that the scouts would return, that his quest to be the first Orthodox Jewish player in the modern-day NBA had not diminished.

“I’ve always said that the Jews as a people are not as gifted athletically as others,” Katz said, “but the world is much more sensitive to differences in people than they were 20 years ago. No one took Tamir seriously, but the timing is right for a player like Ryan, who is a Swiss army knife.”

Turell spent a longer-than-expected offseason hoisting hundreds of three-pointers at Valley Torah High in Valley Village, not stopping until he had knocked down 500 of them. He added 25 pounds to his 6-foot-7, 195-pound frame before the Maccabees finally returned to the court last month, picking up where he left off in last year’s tournament. He is averaging 26.0 points per game for Yeshiva, which is in the midst of a 37-game win streak, the NCAA’s longest, dating to last season.

⚡️ “Can L.A.’s Ryan Turell be the first Orthodox Jewish NBA player?” by @latimessports https://t.co/Ef0RTs2INo

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) March 17, 2021

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Check out some of his highlights below:

The Yid could play.

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