The history of Jewish basketball in the United States is a tale of resilience, passion, and a determination to break barriers. In the early 1920s, as Jewish immigrants and their American-born children sought acceptance in a new land, basketball emerged as a unifying force. The game became a vehicle for integration, a means to overcome discrimination, and a source of pride for Jewish communities across the nation. In this narrative, two contemporary figures, Jeremy Treatman and Kenny Holdsman, emerge as quintessential Philadelphia hoop heads, carrying forth the legacy of Jewish basketball in the City of Brotherly Love.
During a time when anti-Jewish sentiment was on the rise, basketball provided a platform for Jewish players to showcase their skills and demand recognition. In the face of discriminatory practices, Yale University’s recognition of Jewish players marked a significant milestone, demonstrating that sports could be a catalyst for acceptance and integration on campus. Nat Holman, a pivotal figure in this narrative, not only coached at CCNY but also played for the Original Celtics, a team that played a pivotal role in popularizing basketball across the country. Their barnstorming tours showcased the strategic brilliance and showmanship that characterized Jewish basketball.
The 1930s witnessed the establishment of independent teams, including the iconic New York Hakoahs and the Philadelphia Sphas. The latter, founded by future Philadelphia Warriors owner Eddie Gottlieb, began as an amateur group and evolved into a professional force, winning a staggering ten championships in leagues across the Philadelphia area and the East Coast. The Sphas not only exemplified excellence on the court but also embodied the resilience and determination of Philadelphia’s Jewish athletes in a changing America.
As professional basketball remained on the periphery, college basketball surged in popularity. Madison Square Garden became the epicenter of the sport, with New York schools boasting rosters filled with Jewish talent. A distinctive playing style characterized by constant motion and quick passing became synonymous with Jewish players, challenging teams with a different approach. The NIT and NCAA Tournaments witnessed the triumph of teams led by prominent Jewish players, culminating in CCNY’s historic “Grand Slam” in 1950.
Socio-economic success, suburban migration, and changing priorities contributed to the decline of a centralized Jewish playing presence in the sport and altered the landscape of Jewish basketball. While a few players like Lennie Rosenbluth and Art Heyman continued to excel, the torch was passed to Jewish coaches, general managers, owners and businessmen who left an indelible mark on the game.
In 2023, Jeremy Treatman and Kenny Holdsman were honored by the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame for their unwavering contributions to basketball in the Greater Philadelphia region. For a quarter century, Treatman’s Scholastic Play-By-Play Classics has been the top high school basketball showcase event company in the country. His formula is simple: invite the top teams and premier players in the country to compete at first class venues and watch the stands fill with knowledgeable and passionate hoops fans! Play By Play Classics have showcased 127 future NBA players and nine future WNBA stars, including: Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Elena Delle Donne, Kyle Lowry, Maggie Lucas, Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, O.J. Mayo and Michael Beasley.
More than 850,000 fans have attended his events and another 2M+ have watched games we’ve produced on television. They have hosted games at some of the nation’s landmark arenas and college campuses, with stops at Ohio State, US Bank Arena, Cameron Indoor Stadium, The Palestra, Temple University, Villanova University, The Dean Dome, St Joseph’s University, Greensboro Coliseum (NC), Dayton University, The Pyramid (TN), Sovereign Bank Arena (NJ) and many more.
Holdsman co-founded Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB) in the Spring of 2015 along with four other passionate civic leaders grounded by a common purpose: to leverage the iconic game of basketball to help today’s underserved youth overcome the most urgent and systemic issues facing their communities. Since then, PYB has been working hard to build a high-impact and high-quality program, organization, and future Youth Basketball, Education, and Communinty Empowerment center, quite literally “brick by brick”.
Since its inception, PYB has built a small but mighty staff team, diverse Board of Directors, community-based volunteer pool, and collection of dynamic advisory committees. They are proud of their broad donor network across Philadelphia and the tri-state region, breaking all lines of race, gender, ethnicity, and class – a true grassroots approach.
Early next year, Holdsman and PYB will unveil The Alan Horwitz ‘Sixth Man’ Center. Located in the Nicetown neighborhood of North Philadelphia, this 100,000 square foot world-class facility will be a second home for thousands of young people and a resource for the community, transforming lives for decades to come. The Center will provide everything that PYB believes young people need to thrive academically and intellectually, socially and emotionally, & civically and vocationally.
They stand as contemporary torchbearers of a rich tradition, representing the enduring spirit of Jewish basketball in the City of Brotherly Love. Through their passion, dedication, and commitment to the game, they continue to inspire future generations to carve their names in this storied legacy.
Jeremy Treatman received the Simcha Gersh Award and Kenny Holdsman received the Pillar Award for civic contributions to our City and its young people. The recognition by the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame is a testament to their profound impact on the game of basketball and their role in preserving a vital chapter in American sports history. As quintessential hoop heads, they stand on the shoulders of giants who paved the way for Jewish athletes in the world of basketball. Their contributions not only honor the past but also inspire a new generation to carry forth the legacy of Jewish basketball in the Greater Philadelphia area.