Local media lauded Israeli basketball player Omri Casspi, selected in the first round of the NBA draft by Sacramento, the first Israeli player to be chosen.

Headlines in Maariv Friday declared, "History has been made," The Jerusalem Post said, "Israel's Omri Casspi picked in NBA draft, and Haaretz ran with the headline "Israeli basketball star Omri Casspi picked in first round of NBA draft."

"It appears Casspi has high chances of becoming the first Israeli to step on the NBA parquet flooring," Maariv said, adding Casspi is slated to earn up to $1.167 million in the upcoming season.

The 6-foot-9, 225-pound Casspi, a forward for Maccabi Tel Aviv, was the 23rd pick overall and went to the Sacramento Kings.

Casspi, 21, led Maccabi Tel Aviv to a league championship this past year, averaging 12.6 points per game, and was named to the all-league team.

He is the first Israeli ever to be picked to play in the NBA in the first round, Haaretz noted. The media reports said Casspi watched the draft from home.