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Jared Armstrong’s basketball career didn’t turn out exactly as he expected, but what he’s done with the sport has been a pretty nice consolation prize.
Armstrong was unable to play Division I basketball due to a foot injury, but has been playing professionally in Israel.
When Armstrong was offered the opportunity to play in Israel, he received citizenship there, a nod to his Jewish heritage. Now his goal is “to be remembered as more than just a basketball player.”
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Jared Armstrong is giving back to his Jewish community. (Jared Armstrong Basketball)
That’s why Armstrong is building courts in Israel and Jewish communities in his hometown of Philadelphia.
“I always had a passion that basketball would stop one day. What are you going to do after your career? I just didn’t want to be another statistic. They say 50% of guys go broke within five years of playing, whether it’s in the NBA or overseas. So my goal is basically to try to build a business, which is rare, while you’re playing. That way, when I’m done, I’ll have something to fall back on,” Armstrong recently told Pak Gazette Digital.
Armstrong said the events of Oct. 7 pushed him even more to help his communities.
“I think what drove me was seeing that a lot of the kids, when I came back and decided to play, they didn’t have an outlet. I saw how much they wanted it,” Armstrong said. “They were hungry for it. They weren’t in school and didn’t really have anything to do. After our first clinic, it really increased my motivation to keep doing it for them because I know that if I were in their shoes, I would want someone to do it for me.”
“It was about giving something back to where I started my career,” he added. “Obviously, I’m Jewish and my family is Jewish, and I was never really a religious person. I was always more of an action-based guy and the way you treat people. I believed in morals and values and principles. I think it’s very important for me to show kids what’s possible with a ball and a dream… So, I think it’s very important for us to show what basketball can do. I personally believe that basketball can save the world and can help inspire the next generation.”
This court was built in Poria with the help of Armstrong. (Jared Armstrong Basketball)
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In addition to his philanthropic work, he is behind the upcoming JAB Classic in August, one of only two million-dollar basketball tournaments in existence, featuring former NBA players and top international professionals, all competing on one stage with one mission: to use the power of sport to unite and inspire.
“This idea has been brewing for almost two years. Money is not the big draw here. The real purpose of the tournament is to combat hate,” Armstrong said.
“Hate is rising, and I think sports is a beautiful way to not only amplify the message but also show that unity is possible. For us, unity and understanding the message is super important, but bringing all of these players under one roof also creates an opportunity for community involvement. It gives a lot of inner-city kids the opportunity to see their favorite players who they otherwise wouldn’t get to see during the NBA season. I think there are a lot of intangibles here as well.”
And as the NBA Finals progress, Armstrong will always reflect on what basketball has done not only for him, but for many others.
Armstrong is building basketball courts both in Israel and in Jewish communities in his hometown of Philadelphia. (Jared Armstrong Basketball)
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“I wouldn’t be where I am or in this position if it weren’t for the game. I believe basketball can save the world,” he said. “It’s an inexpensive sport that everyone can play. You literally just need a ball and a hoop. I think that’s what sets it apart and makes it such a meaningful and powerful game.
“You have to communicate. You have to learn about other people. You’re not going to go on a basketball court and be mute. In football, you can wear a helmet and pads and no one may really know you, but in basketball, everyone has to get to know each other. I think there are a lot of intangibles that you learn from the game that carry over directly into your daily life.”
