Israeli NBA player Omri Caspi of the Sacramento Kings is among the athletes flying to Israel on Sheldon Adelson's private 747. Sheldon Adelson flies NBA stars to Israel to fight boycott movement

Billionaire donor Sheldon Adelson flew a group of NBA players to Israel on his private jet Thursday.

According to the Jewish Journal, Adelson and his wife’s private Boeing 747 jet was lent to a delegation of eight NBA players, led by Israeli Sacramento Kings’ forward Omri Casspi. Video of the players approaching the plane was posted on the Instagram account of former NBA player Gal Mekel, who is also Israeli.


The trip is part of a Casspi-led effort to fight the international movement to boycott Israel. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has approved of the trip, according to the Jewish Press.

Joining Casspi are fellow Kings players DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay and Caron Butler, as well as other NBA notables Chandler Parsons, Tyreke Evans, Iman Shumpert and newly signed Washington Wizard Alan Anderson.

In Israel the players will take part in two events with Israeli basketball teams Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem.

The players are also planning to take part in a number of philanthropic events in Israel, including some organized by the league-sponsored NBA Cares.