Uri Kukia
Encyclopedia
Uri Kukia is an Israeli professional basketball player. He is a 2.02 metre center
/power forward
and team captain for Hapoel Jerusalem
, and a member of the Israel national basketball team
.
.
He played five season for Ironi Nahariya
, and has also played for Bnei Hasharon
, Maccabi Haifa
(after the 2007-08 season), Hapoel Holon
, and Hapoel Jerusalem
(for whom he is team captain).
In 2010, at the age of 29 and never having played on a national team before, Kukia was slated to make his Israel national team debut for the start of the 2011 EuroBasket
qualifying campaign. In November 2010, he suffered a torn tendon in his shoulder.
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
/power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
and team captain for Hapoel Jerusalem
Hapoel Jerusalem
Hapoel Jerusalem is a sport organization in Jerusalem, Israel as a local branch of the Hapoel movement. The branch was established in the 1920s and represents the city in more sports than any other sport organization in Jerusalem...
, and a member of the Israel national basketball team
Israel national basketball team
The Israeli national basketball team is the basketball team that represents Israel in international competition.The Israeli team has participated 25 times in the European championship tournament. Their best achievements were a silver medal in Eurobasket 1979, and 5th place in 1953 and 1977...
.
Basketball career
He began playing basketball with sport clubs Elitzur Yavneh and Maccabi Rehovot. At 21 years of age, Kukia entered the Premier League, playing for Hapoel Galil ElyonHapoel Galil Elyon
Hapoel Galil-Elyon was an Israeli basketball club. The team represented the north-east region of the country – the Upper Galilee, and the Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights...
.
He played five season for Ironi Nahariya
Ironi Nahariya
Ironi Nahariya is a professional basketball club based in Nahariya in northern Israel. The team plays in Liga Leumit, the Second division in Israeli basketball.-History:...
, and has also played for Bnei Hasharon
Bnei HaSharon
Bnei HaSharon/Herzliya is a professional basketball club based in Herzliya, in central Israel. The club currently plays in Ligat HaAl, the top division of Israeli basketball.The club was created by the merge of Maccabi Ra'anana and Bnei Herzliya in 2002...
, Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa is a sports club in Israel, founded in 1913, and part of the Maccabi association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Haifa which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, such as Football, Weightlifting, swimming, Tennis, Table tennis, Volleyball, Team handball,...
(after the 2007-08 season), Hapoel Holon
Hapoel Holon
-External links:* * *...
, and Hapoel Jerusalem
Hapoel Jerusalem
Hapoel Jerusalem is a sport organization in Jerusalem, Israel as a local branch of the Hapoel movement. The branch was established in the 1920s and represents the city in more sports than any other sport organization in Jerusalem...
(for whom he is team captain).
In 2010, at the age of 29 and never having played on a national team before, Kukia was slated to make his Israel national team debut for the start of the 2011 EuroBasket
Eurobasket
The EuroBasket, also referred to as the FIBA European Basketball Championship, is the main basketball competition contested biennially by the men's national teams governed by FIBA Europe, the European zone within the International Basketball Federation. The championship was first held in 1935 and...
qualifying campaign. In November 2010, he suffered a torn tendon in his shoulder.