Rising Stars in American Sports
When people talk about Jewish greatness in American sports, a few names almost always come up first. Sandy Koufax. Hank Greenberg. Mark Spitz. For decades those names carried the story almost by themselves. Koufax dominated baseball in the 1960s and famously sat out Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur. Greenberg was one of baseball’s first Jewish superstars and a Hall of Fame slugger for the Detroit Tigers. Spitz won seven gold medals at the 1972 Olympic Games, a record at the time. Today that list is growing again as a new generation of Jewish athletes reaches the Olympic podium, enters professional leagues, and builds careers at the highest level of competition.
All-Star Weekend competition.
In the past year especially, Jewish athletes have appeared across many different sports. Olympic ice rinks, NBA arenas, college basketball courts, and professional baseball stadiums have all seen Jewish players competing at elite levels. The results show how much the landscape has changed since the days when only a handful of names represented Jewish excellence in sports.
The 2026 Winter Olympics produced several proud moments for Jewish athletes, especially on the ice. The United States men’s and women’s hockey teams both captured gold medals. Jewish players were part of that historic achievement. Goalie Aerin Frankel helped anchor the United States women’s team on its way to the Olympic title with key saves throughout the tournament. On the men’s side, brothers Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils and Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks were part of the American roster during the Olympic tournament. Jack Hughes has developed into one of the NHL’s most dynamic young scorers, while Quinn Hughes is widely regarded as one of the league’s top defensemen. Their younger brother Luke Hughes has also reached the NHL with the New Jersey Devils, giving the Hughes family three brothers playing at hockey’s highest level, something that must give their Jewish mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, plenty of reasons to kvell. Jewish representation in hockey can also be seen at the professional level with players like Zach Hyman of the Edmonton Oilers, who scored 54 goals in the 2023 to 2024 NHL season. Seeing Jewish players competing for and winning Olympic gold while also thriving in the NHL is another sign that Jewish athletes are now succeeding in sports that once had very little Jewish representation.
Another promising name rising in hockey is Zeev Buium, one of the most talked about young defensemen in American hockey. Buium played his college hockey at the University of Denver and was selected 12th overall in the NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild before later becoming part of the Vancouver Canucks organization. His rapid progress has attracted strong attention from scouts and fans. Buium represents the growing presence of Jewish athletes in a sport that historically had very little Jewish participation.
Another highlight came from speed skater Emery Lehman of the United States Olympic team. Representing the United States, Lehman earned a silver medal in the men’s team pursuit. Speed skating requires years of intense training for races that last only seconds. Lehman’s medal placed him among the small group of Jewish athletes who have reached the podium in winter Olympic competition.
Basketball delivered another milestone. Israeli forward Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers reached a new level of recognition when he was selected to the NBA All-Star Game, the first Israeli player to earn that honor. Avdija’s steady improvement since entering the league has made him one of the most productive forwards in the game. His selection to the All-Star stage signaled that an Israeli player now belongs among the NBA’s biggest names.
The future of Jewish basketball also took a major step forward during the NBA draft. Two young players with Israeli ties, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, were selected in the first round by the Brooklyn Nets. First-round draft picks represent a team’s belief that a player can develop into a long-term contributor in the league. Their selections suggested that Israeli basketball talent is gaining increasing recognition in the global game.
Women’s basketball has its own rising Israeli star. Yarden Garzon of the Maryland Terrapins has emerged as one of the most successful Israeli players in NCAA women’s basketball, earning All-Big Ten recognition and previously setting the Indiana Hoosiers’ program record for career three-pointers.
College basketball has also produced one of the most inspiring Jewish sports stories of recent years at Yeshiva University. The Yeshiva University men’s basketball team, known as the Maccabees, captured national attention with a 50-game winning streak in NCAA Division III. Led by standout guard Ryan Turell, the team became one of the most talked about stories in college sports. Turell was selected in the 2022 NBA G League draft and later played for the Motor City Cruise.
Football has produced fewer Jewish stars than some other major sports, but there have still been notable figures in the NFL. Wide receiver Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots became one of the most accomplished Jewish players in league history during his career. Edelman won three Super Bowl championships and was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl LIII after a standout performance in the Patriots’ victory. Today, players such as kicker Greg Joseph of the Las Vegas Raiders have continued that presence in the league, showing that Jewish athletes remain part of football’s highest level of competition.
Baseball continues to carry its own Jewish legacy forward. Players like Alex Bregman of the Chicago Cubs and Max Fried of the New York Yankees remain among the most accomplished Jewish athletes in Major League Baseball. Bregman has been an All-Star third baseman and a key player on championship teams. Fried has established himself as one of baseball’s top starting pitchers, earning All-Star honors and helping lead his teams into the postseason.
Taken together, these achievements tell a larger story. Jewish athletes are now competing and succeeding across a wide range of sports. Olympic ice. NBA arenas. College basketball courts. Major league ballparks. Each success adds another name to the growing list of Jewish sports figures.
The list that once started with Sandy Koufax and Hank Greenberg continues to grow. New Olympic medalists, rising young prospects, and professional stars are adding their own chapters. Each accomplishment strengthens a legacy of determination, pride, and achievement that continues to inspire the next generation of Jewish athletes.
