Welcome, Omari Spellman!
Spellman was born on July 21, 1997, in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He grew up in a family of basketball players, which fueled his interest in the sport from a young age. It was his mother who helped Omari build his future career as a player.
Spellman attended several schools, including Northeast Academy in his native Ohio and St. Thomas More Academy in Connecticut, where he established himself as a talented player.
In 2016, Omari enrolled at Villanova University, where he played for the Wildcats. In the 2017/18 season, he became a key player for the team and helped them win the NCAA National Championship. Spellman showcased himself as a strong shooting forward and an excellent defender, catching the attention of NBA scouts.
As a result, in 2018, Omari Spellman was drafted 30th overall by the Atlanta Hawks. In his rookie season, he demonstrated good shooting and defensive skills, averaging 5.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1 assist per game.
In 2019, the forward was traded to the Golden State Warriors. With the San Francisco team, Spellman showed confident play, averaging 7.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1 assist per game, although the season was marred by injuries and team instability.
Later, the player was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he never made his debut for the team and decided to continue his career overseas.
After the NBA, in 2021, the forward signed a contract with the South Korean club Anyang KGC. There, he quickly became the team leader and one of the best players in the league, averaging 19 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. At the end of his debut 2021/22 season, Omari became the Korean League champion and was recognized as MVP of the finals. Omari spent three years with Anyang KGC until the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
The new Zenit player also played for the USA youth national teams. In 2014, he participated in the U18 national team training camp but did not make the final roster. In 2023, Spellman began playing for the Lebanese national team, where he established himself as a leader and key player. He participated in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and other international tournaments, representing Lebanon at a high level.
Zenit Basketball Club welcomes Omari Spellman and looks forward to meeting him in St. Petersburg!
