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Gilad Reingold of Be'er Sheva saw Niagara Falls and Las Vegas on a 19-day U.S. trip following his bar mitzvah, but said one night in New Jersey provided the real reason he came halfway across the globe -- to see Omri Casspi, the first National Basketball Association player from his homeland.

Casspi, a 6-9 small forward averaging better than 10 points per game in his rookie season with the Sacramento Kings, has motivated practically every NBA city with a significant Jewish population to organize a Jewish-themed night when he comes to town, and that was the case March 24 on New Jersey Nets "Jewish Family Night." Israeli flags -- small ones for waving and large ones functioning as banners or capes -- filled the Izod Center in East Rutherford as fans like 13-year-old Gilad, one of the many donning Casspi's not-coincidental No. 18 (chai) jersey, got an up-close look at a player whose popularity grows each game regardless of how he performs on the court.

"For us, he's a legend," Gilad, who plays on youth basketball team in Israel, said. "He's a hero for us. We wake up at 4 a.m. to see him [on television in Israel]."

Casspi scored just two points in the Kings' 93-79 loss, but did his part and then some on "Jewish Family Night." He signed autographs and took pictures with fans for at least half an hour, said Robert Katz, executive vice president in North America for the Israeli orphanage Migdal Ohr, a participating sponsor for the evening as well as the organizer of last October's exhibition between Maccabi Electra Tel-Aviv and the New York Knicks.

"I just really appreciate the situation, it just gives me a lot of energy to continue and work hard to be in the league for many years," Casspi told The Jewish State, regarding the warm reception he gets from Jewish fans.

'One of our own'

Casspi "was an unbelievable mensch" to fans before the game, Katz said.

"He knows his role as a hero and a role model to so many Jews and kids here in America, and he plays it perfectly," he said. "He's a wonderful ambassador for Israel."

While visiting his cousin Nadav in Israel, Jon Herbstman of New City, N.Y., watched on television as Casspi became the 23rd overall pick in last June's NBA, and said he has been "watching every shot" Casspi takes since. Herbstman, 15, secured a Casspi autograph for Nadav before the Nets game.

"He is both of our idol," Herbstman said.

Rafi Muller, who also got Casspi's autograph, lives in Manhattan but grew up as a Washington Wizards fan in the D.C. area. He didn't come to "Jewish Family Night" to see the Nets.

"I'm a big basketball fan, always have been, and once one of our own is in the league, I want to go support him," Muller said.

Sporting a non-Casspi Kings jersey (No. 34, Jason Thompson), Yisroel Quint, a 15-year-old student at The Frisch School in Paramus, said he became a fan of the team 10 years ago during "the glory days of Sacramento," long before Casspi's arrival. However, the fact that the Kings now employ an Israeli player certainly doesn't hurt Quint's rooting interest.

"He's been amazing so far and I know how much it means to Israel," Quint said.

Quint's Frisch classmate, Nets fan Elan Ramras, was left with the conundrum of whether to cheer on his hometown team or his fellow Jew.

"I really like Omri Casspi, but I think I'm going to go with the Nets just for pity," Ramras said, referencing the Nets' current flirtation with the worst single-season record in NBA history.

The night's festivities provided the perfect reunion for Camp Mesorah, a Guilford, N.Y., Orthodox summer camp that brought 80 kids to the game. Rather than just watching, Mesorah campers got to play on the court three hours before the game. Joseph Stansky, the camp's owner and director, said that by taking the time to sign autographs and take pictures with fans, Casspi taught them how "being an excellent athlete comes with responsibility."

The Omri Casspi road show

NBA teams understand that Casspi is a real source of pride for the Jewish community and puts Jewish fans in the seats, said Ben Krasna, deputy consul general for the Consulate General of Israel in New York. The distribution of Israeli flags and pins as well as the availability of extra kosher food at concessions were among the elements the consulate pushed for inclusion in "Jewish Family Night," Krasna said. With the playing of Matisyahu's new song "One Day" before the game and "Hava Nagila" when Casspi first checked in the game, a booming "mazel tov" from the loudspeaker after a Nets fast-break dunk, and the flashing of Orthodox Jewish boxer Dmitriy Salita on the JumboTron, the Jewish atmosphere dominated the arena.

Jewish-themed nights in Casspi's honor are one thing in cities like Houston or Phoenix, but a whole different ballgame when they take place amidst the vast Jewish population of the New York and New Jersey area, said Nachum Segal, popular host of the "JM in the AM" morning radio show on AM 620. Segal said he received a high volume of calls about Casspi leading up to Nets "Jewish Family Night."

"There will be plenty of people here tonight who know nothing about basketball, they just want to take part in Jewish pride together," Segal said after his pre-game schmooze with Paul Westphal, the Kings' head coach.

The Kings said they enjoy the buzz surrounding Casspi on the road. "It's terrific," Westphal told The Jewish State. "I love it. I love it. I know how excited the Jewish people are for Omri for being the first Israeli player in the NBA and for how well he's done, and it really makes me feel good to see him get that kind of support."

"It's a big thing for him, to represent his country, he's got a lot of fans," Rookie of the Year contender Tyreke Evans, who the Kings drafted 4th overall, 19 spots ahead of Casspi, told The Jewish State.

Sacramento's other foreign-born players appreciate the pride that Casspi creates for his country. Dominican guard Francisco Garcia said his homeland fan base pales in comparison to Casspi's.

"A lot of [Latin American] fans come to see me play, but not at the level they come to see him play," Garcia told The Jewish State.

Argentinian forward Andres Nocioni agreed.

"A lot of people from his country are coming, they believe he is like the Michael Jordan of Israel," Nocioni told The Jewish State.

A rookie's journey

Casspi exceeded expectations early in his rookie season, working his way into the Kings' starting lineup and averaging 14.1 points per game last December. He has since been relegated to a backup role and tallied about 5 points per game in March, but said he has "learned a lot... learned, learned, and learned" from facing NBA talent.

"Everything is tougher, the [skill] level of the players, the physicality, the quickness; [the players are] taller," Casspi told The Jewish State.

"I feel blessed to be in this position, to be the first one in the league representing my country," he told reporters.

The Jewish State asked Casspi if he has tried to teach his teammates any Hebrew, and he replied: "Nah, they won't catch any of that." His coach certainly hasn't.

"My Hebrew is not any better than my Spanish or my Italian or my Chinese," Westphal told The Jewish State. "I have a hard enough time with my English."