DJ Kennedy felt at home at Hapoel Holon ("People in Israel care about you"), he does not forget the fans who lifted him on his shoulders after missing a crucial shot ("I did not think I would see such a thing"), but tonight he will win forever with Karshiaka
DJ Kennedy.
Waiting to meet the Holon fans
Photo:
FIBA website
May 15, 2014, in his last game at Hapoel Holon, DJ Kennedy stands on the penalty line in the last seconds of game No. 4 in the quarterfinals of the playoffs against Hapoel Jerusalem and misses a crucial shot.
Holon loses 75:74 and is eliminated.
Kennedy enters the locker room hunched over, but thousands of fans go down to the parquet and some take him out, swing him over his shoulders and sing him cheers.
Out of excitement the actor began to cry.
"I will never forget this moment", he is excited in an interview with "Israel Today", "Think, I missed a crucial free throw in the most important game of the season, and yet the fans hugged me and supported me. It was my first season outside the US and the crowd was something Special for me.
The fans are just amazing, I did not think I would see such a thing. "
Do you know that your game in Holon will be the first with an audience since the Corona?
"Wow, I did not know. It's great. Their fans are very influential and can make a difference for them. I'm already waiting to see the fans and people I know. They always show love and special to play there."
From my money in Cleveland to Goni in the bins
Kennedy (31) played in Holon in the 2013/14 season and although he did not share a great achievement, he is well remembered in the purple club and among the fans thanks to his positive nature, commitment and of course excellent professional ability (11.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on average).
The beginning really did not herald the following.
Kennedy, who as mentioned first came out of the US borders, had a hard time adapting, and the management was already thinking of releasing him, but then Elad Hussein was appointed coach in place of Lior Lubin and asked to give the player another chance, an opportunity that turned out to be particularly rewarding. Good together and we are still in touch. "
Which of the actors do you particularly remember?
"What a question, you Goni (Jezreeli, YM).
He is a natural leader and a wonderful captain.
He received me wonderfully and thanks to him it was much easier for me to adapt. "
"In general, Israel was one of the first places that really made me who I am and made me feel at home," he continues, "In Israel people care about you. I loved the culture, I loved the Sabbath. I have many memories of Israel. Playing with you was very family for me."
So you say that there is a chance that we will see you come back sometime to play in Israel, maybe even in Holon?
"You never know. I love Israel and always tell the players who play with me how good a place it is. I would love to come back in the future, maybe it will happen too."
Kennedy actually made his acquaintance with Israeli basketball even before he arrived in Holon.
This was in the 2011/12 season when he signed for the Cleveland Cavaliers and even managed to collaborate on two games with Omri Caspi.
"Omri is a great man. I arrived late and I remember that he treated me well. He took care of me and taught me a lot of things. I remember that the thing that characterized him the most was the hard work, I looked away and saw how professionals behave."
Since leaving Israel in the summer of 2014, the forward has moved to Russia, Germany, China, Italy, Australia and has not settled anywhere until he signed in September 2019 in Karsiyaka in place of Tony Crocker, another ex-Holoni, and became one of the most stable and esteemed players in the Turkish club.
Last summer he extended his contract until 2022 and tonight he will meet his former team as part of the second home stage of the Champions League.
How do you see the balance of power ahead of the game?
"Holon is in very good shape, they have good players and a lot of players I know like Chris Johnson. We are also in a very good season (second place in the Turkish league, above Fenerbahce, YM) so I am sure there will be a strong game and we are ready for battle ".
Make a lot of money in a little while
The real imprint of his career was left by Kennedy in the TBT League, which is held every summer in the United States, in which many players from all over the world make up teams and compete in a short tournament with the champion sweeping sums of money (between 1-2 million dollars, depending on the years).
"For four years in a row (2015-2018) he won the championship with the Overseas Elite team, twice being named the tournament's outstanding player. Our acquaintances Jeremy Fargo and Diandra Kane collaborated with him (and made money)." It's nice to play a few games and make money, "he said. He laughs, "Every year great players come there, and it's an honor for me to be considered one of the best players in this league."