Shelef, Gur

Gurel Shelef

The son of Ami Shelef, former basketball star and chairman of Israel's Professional Basketball Committee, Gur served as Israeli national team captain for a couple of years. He is known as a gifted passer with outstanding all-around skills, equally proficient in shooting, rebounding, and defense.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. Jan. 10, 1974

Career Highlights:
Shelef came up with Hapoel Giva'taim, but first turned pro at Hapoel Gvat and played for that minor team in the 1992-93 season, while still a member of the Israeli national youth team. In 1993-94, Gur moved up to the bigger Maccabi Ramat Gan club. He spent two years at Ramat Gan averaging 9.3 points per game, with over three rebounds and assists per game.

In 1995-96, Shelef was signed by Hapoel Galil Elyon, the second biggest team in the country at the time. Here, he became a star. Though Galil never really challenged for the championship during Gur's years at the club, he helped them remain a top team. In 1995-96, he averaged 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. The following two years were similarly impressive. In 1996-97 his numbers were 15.6 points per game, 3.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.5 steals; the next season, they were 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.6 steals. Maccabi Tel Aviv quickly signed him, but Shelef's stats became less impressive; Tel Aviv used him as part of a wide rotation where Gur was a role player, albeit an important one.

In his five seasons with Maccabi, the team won five national championships, four State Cups, and a European Supro League (formerly the European Cup) championship. Shelef's highest scoring average with the team was 10.1 (in 2000-01). He routinely averaged over 3 rebounds a game. In Maccabi's historic 2001 Supro League campaign, Shelef averaged 7.2 points per game.

Gur enjoyed a successful career on the various national teams. In 1996, he averaged 10.6 points and 3.0 assists per game in the European under-20 Championship. A year later he was a starter on the senior team, averaging 9.8 points per game in the senior Euro Championship. Shelef played in the 1999, 2001, and 2003 tournaments as well.

Shelef started for Israel in the 2003 Euro championships. He was supposed to captain the side, but lost his position when he criticized the coach in an interview. Many felt he should have been stripped of the captaincy when he punched a fan earlier in the year. Prior to that tumultuous season, Gur did not have a reputation as a troublemaker.

Shelef was the starting small forward for the Israeli national team in 2003 European Championship held in Sweden. He scored 9 points in a mediocre performance at the opening game loss to Dirk Nowitzki's Germany. In the following matchup against Lithuania, Gur scored only four points and Israel was defeated by the powerful Lithuanian team, 94-62. The Israelis finally found their stride, trouncing Latvia, 91-75, on September 7, 2003. Gur's sterling defensive display, plus seven points, five assists and four rebounds were a major contribution to the victory. In the second-round game against Slovenia, held on September 8, Shelef helped Israel to a 78-76 win. He was held to only two points, though, as Israel lost to Spain in the quarterfinal, 78-64. However, 10 points from Gur in the 89-82 victory over Russia helped Israel place seventh in the championship.

Gur played on the Maccabi side as they won their fourth European Superleague title. On May 1, 2004 he came off the bench as Tel Aviv beat Bologna 118-74. On May 6th Shelef helped his team to the State Cup by beating Hapoel Jerusalem 108-85 in Tel Aviv.

Shelef was part of the 2004-05 Maccabi Tel Aviv team which won the Superleague title for the second year running. The small forward scored 2 points in one shot attempt as Maccabi beat Panathinaikos 91-82 in the semifinals and also played in the final.

Origin:
Israel

Career Dates:
1992-present

Position:
Small forward

Physical description:
6"6

Career Statistics:
82 games in the national team scoring 676 points.

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