Omri Casspi entered the league as the first NBA star of his native country, the "Michael Jordan of Israel" as former King Jason Thompson used to call him. During his first stint with the Kings from 2009 to 2011, the 6'9'' forward showed that he was going to need some time to transition into the NBA. The talent was there. He could score, but his game was raw and he hadn't quite caught up to the speed and physicality of the top league in professional basketball.
Former Kings head coach Paul Westphal used Casspi sparingly and at one point favored Donte Greene's services over him.