The Israeli Basketball Winner League continues to ramp up to begin play this coming weekend as many of the foreign players, both new and returnees have arrived in the Holy Land. One of those players is guard Deishuan Booker who joined Bnei Herzliya, which will be his third team after having played for Hapoel Galil Elyon and Hapoel Eilat.

Another player who will be making his Israeli league debut will be swingman Wes Iwundu who joined Kiryat Ata after just having finished the season in Australia with the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

“I’m excited to be back and I love being here. I like playing here. Probably some of my best years I’ve been here. It’s a great place and I enjoy it,” Booker began as he arrived at Ben Gurion Airport after having played in Turkey and Belgium this pasts season.

It’s never an easy decision to sign in Israel while there is a conflict still going on, but Booker who is a veteran of the league understood the situation and was comfortable with it, “That’s kind of usually how it was, but last time I came around, when I came to Eilat. So I trust the situation here. I’m familiar with a few people, so I was able to speak to a couple of people and they reassured me everything would be okay.”

Herzliya has been one of the top teams in the league and despite losing a few players due to the war with the addition of Booker and some others, Yehu Orland’s squad will be good to go and battle for the title, “I’m glad that I’m able to be in a place like Herzliya. I want to win, man. I feel like it’s about that time. I’ve been all over the board here in Israel, so let’s hang out at the top a little bit.”

Wes Iwundu arrives in Israel with a resume that speaks for itself having played in over 230 NBA games with the Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks. The 31-year old Houston, Texas native has also played in the G-League, Germany, Greece as well as this past year in Australia where he averaged 11.7 points.

“It’s been a journey, been an adventure, but I’m finally here and excited. It’s my first time here in Israel, so I’m excited to get out and get settled in,” Iwundu told The Sports Rabbi. “It wasn’t a tough decision to come here because at the end of the day it’s just basketball for me, even with the circumstances. I trust that if the league is starting back up and everything is in, the protocols are in place just in case, but other than that, it’s just basketball.”

As for what Iwundu brings to the table he said, “A little bit of everything. I’ve got a versatile game, scoring, defending, just helping the team get involved in all types of things, whatever is needed.”