A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Tamir grew up as an Orthodox Jew. He fell in love with the game of basketball and excelled to the point where he was the #25 high school prospect in the country as a 17-year-old. His story became a national headline in places like Time Magazine, 60 minutes, and Sports Illustrated, where he was dubbed the “Jewish Jordan.” This budding fame and media attention led his Jewish school to ask him to play elsewhere for his senior year because it was becoming a distraction. As a devout Jew, his options were limited because of Shabbat observance. Takoma Academy reached out and explained there would be no Sabbath conflicts as an Adventist school, and he transferred. He received a scholarship offer from the University of Maryland with accommodations for Shabbat, but later was told he’d have to play on Sabbath, and eventually signed with Towson University. After a successful freshman year, his coach was fired, and the new coach was not accommodating of Sabbath. Tamir took the opportunity to move to Israel where he played professionally for seven years and still lives to this day.

Tamir talks about the difference between Israeli and American players, how the clubs in Europe are preparing more well-rounded players, and his various entrepreneurial ventures. He also shares how the October 7 attacks impacted his family and community, and how basketball helped to provide a little normalcy for families in his area in the aftermath.

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