Top 10 Interesting Facts About T. J. Leaf

photo by Keith Allison from Wikimedia

Top 10 Interesting Facts About T. J. Leaf

T.J. Leaf is an Israeli-American professional basketball player for the Guangzhou Loong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association.

Leaf was born on April 30, 1997, in Tel-Aviv Israel, his parents are Brad and Karen leaf. He was born with three other siblings: two brothers and one sister.

both parents were born and raised in the united states of America, but migrated and became Israeli citizens. They lived in Tel-Aviv for twenty years.

T.J leaf is a cerebrated professional basketball player, who has played for big teams in America, Israel, and now in China.

Here are some of the top interesting facts about T.J Leaf

1. T.J Leaf was a Star Player in School

Photo by Tony The Tiger from Wikimedia

T .j leaf’s interest in basketball started in the early years of his life, his father who was also a professional basket player was a very big influence on him.

Leaf attended Foothills Christian High School in El Cajon, California, where he also played under his father.

 As a junior, Leaf averaged 27.4 points, 14.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game.

He was named State Player of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports, after leading Foothills Christian to the San Diego Section Division II championship.

Leaf finished his high school career second all-time in the San Diego Section II, trailing only his brother in both points and rebounds.

2. T.J Leaf  Played Basketball in College 

Photo by Tony The Tiger from Wikimedia

After completing a successful high school basketball career, leaf signed with the University of California, Los Angeles.

HE finished the season as UCLA’s leading scorer averaging 16.3 points per game.

Leaf also averaged 8.2 rebounds and ranked third in field goal percentage among Power Five conference players.

He received an honorable mention from the Associated Press (AP) for their All-American team, 

T.J Leaf was also named first-team All-Pac-12 along with his other two teammates Lonzo Ball and Bryce Alford.

On March 30, 2017, Leaf announced that he would be leaving UCLA to declare for the 2017 NBA draft.

3. T.J is a Professional Basketball Player

Photo by Keith Allison from  Wikimedia

The Indiana Pacers picked T.J. in the first round of the 2017 NBA draft, the 18th overall pick.

He then signed a three-year contract worth $7,249,200 with the Indiana Pacers., where he stayed for three seasons.

With Indiana pacers, Leaf averaged 16.2 minutes and five shots per contest through the first eight games of the 2017 –18 season.

Leaf was sent to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League in December 2017. G League is the official minor league basketball organization of the NBA.

On April 13, 2021, Leaf signed a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.

He signed with Guangzhou Long-Lions, a Chinese professional basketball club where he is currently based. 

4. T.J Lief was the first Israel national in NBA

Photo by Keith Allison from Wikimedia

On 18 April 2018, T.J Leaf became the first Israeli national to play in the NBA playoffs

Indiana Pacers manager put him on the court for the final three minutes of a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He is the also second Israeli national in NBA history, following Omri Casspi, who was chosen by Sacramento as the 23rd pick in the 2009 NBA draft.

 It was an early birthday gift For the Israeli-American, who was to turn 21 the following day.

5. T.J Leaf is an Israel Citizen

Photo by Tony The Tiger from Wikimedia

T.J Leaf was born on April 30, 1997, in Tel Aviv, Israel. He was born to his parents Brad Leaf and Karen Leaf, who are nationalized Israelis.

He has a sister, Talia Leaf Fitzgerald, and two brothers, Troy Leaf and Trent Leaf.

By virtue of being born in Israel, T.J Leaf automatically became an Israeli citizen.

T.J. spent the first two years of his life in Israel before moving to the United States.

His father lived in Israel for 17 years in Israel, before the family shifted to San Diego, United States, in 1999.

6. T.J Leaf Father was a Basketball Player

T.J Leaf’s father is also a basketball player; he has been involved in basketball most of his life as a player and also a coach.

Brad was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 1982 but never joined the team; He was selected as their draft pick in the 7th round in 1982.

The player also joined and played for the La Crosse Catbirds of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA).

Brad Leaf spent 17 years in Israel, playing for Maccabi and Galil Elyon and winning the league MVP award once.

7. TJ Leaf father is a Basketball Coach

After his playing career, Leaf began his coaching career in 2001-02 at Steele Canyon High School in San Diego, California.

He coached them to a 30-2 record in 2004, and CIF San Diego Section boys’ basketball titles in 2004 and 2005.

Beginning in the 2005-06 season, Leaf was the basketball coach of the Foothills Christian High School team, where he coached his son.

He has led the teams to seven basketball school titles, he had a total of 380 wins between the schools by December 2020, and he was named CIF coach of the year in 2016.

8. T.J Leaf is an Israeli National Team Player

Photo by Keith Allison from Wikimedia

T.J Leaf was cut off from the United States Under-19 junior national team in 2015. He then joined Israel’s under-18 junior national team a month later in July.

He participated in the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship Division B in Austria, representing Israel.

Israel had a 73–72 loss in the Division B final. Nonetheless, Leaf was named the tournament’s Most Valued Player (MVP).

He registered 16.1 points per game, 55 Percent shooting, and 8.4 rebounds per game in nine games.

T.J. Leaf looks forward to representing Israel’s senior team as well.

9. T.J Leaf Brother is Basketball Player

Troy Emerson Leaf was born May 26, 1991, in Indianapolis. He is a son to Brad and Karen Leaf and a brother to T.J Leaf.

He played basketball in foothill Christian school together with his younger brother T.J Leaf. They were both coached by their father.

As a junior, Leaf averaged 6.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game…Scored a career-high 50 points against Otay Ranch HS during his junior season..

As a senior at Foothills Christian High School, Troy Leaf averaged 28.1 points, 4.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 steals, and 2.0 blocked shots per game

In 2002 Leaf signed with Guangzhou Long Lions, a Chinese professional basketball club, where is currently based. 

10. T.J Leaf has Received Honours and Awards

In 2016 T.J. Leaf was given the honor to play at The McDonald’s All-American Game.  all-star basketball game consisting of top school players.

He got on The All-Pac-12 men’s basketball team, an honor bestowed on the best players in the conference following every college basketball season. 

Leaf received honorable mention from the Associated Press (AP) for their All-American team.

He was named State Player of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports, after leading Foothills Christian to the San Diego Section Division II championship.