NOVEMBER 17 • 2022 | 37

the city.
“To me, it leads into a larger narrative
of Shabbat observance in the city,” Pinson
said. “There’s a growing group that
observes the Sabbath and want to make
sure the community can be as welcoming
and participatory for others to observe it
as well.
“We had 15 people for minyan this past
Shabbat,” he said. “Ryan would always be
welcome, and we’re glad to be a resource
as well for anything he may ever need.”

EXCITED TO BE HERE
Turell shared his perspective: “I’m a
big believer that everything happens
for a reason. I was out for four or five
months with a broken foot, but then
my agent received a call from the
Pistons organization and the Motor City
Cruise. They said they were
interested. The feeling was
definitely mutual. My agent
and I felt like this was the
best situation and the best
spot. And I’m really excited
to be here.”
Arn Tellem, vice chairman
of the Detroit Pistons, knew of Turell
for a year or so. He’s pleased that this
is where Ryan wants to be to start his
professional career. “He has a lot of
skill, he has a great attitude, and is an
upstanding person,” Tellem told the JN.
Turell has also had positive first
impressions. “Everybody has been super
nice. Everybody is very kind and wants
you to succeed. And, you know, it’s a very
professional organization and the city is a
really cool city to be in.
“
Arn has been very supportive,” he
continued, “making sure I’m comfortable
and, as a fellow Jew, making sure I feel
welcome.”
As the National Basketball Association’s
official minor league basketball
organization, the G League provides a
chance for prospects to advance their
career in NBA.
“You understand that this is a process,”
Turell said, “and this is something
that could take longer or shorter than
expected, you never know. You just have

to take it one day at a time and keep
improving yourself.”
He credits a wide array of people for
their impact on his life. “I think it’d be
all of my coaches, my mom, my dad, my
teammates — everybody who has been
involved along the way.
“
And everyone I’m still interacting
with has a role. Whether that be a guy I
met one time who told me to come off a
screen this way or a coach that I played
with for three years. I just try to be a
sponge and learn from as many people as
I can.”

ON THE COURT
Turell, a native of Los Angeles, is residing
close to the Wayne State’s new 3,000-seat,
$28.3 million basketball arena, where the
Cruise play, to be within walking distance
for games that occur on Shabbat. While

growing up playing AAU Basketball, he’s
dealt with issues of basketball schedules
that fall over Shabbat on countless
occasions.
“I would stay at hotels as close to the
gym as possible,” he said. “Sometimes it
would be up to three miles so that I could
walk to the gym. My teammates and
coaches always supported me through it.
It’s something I’m used to and ready for
and will be doable in Detroit as well.”
Ryan’s father, Brad Turell, told the
Forward that the team arrived to play the
Cruise’s first game in Cleveland on Friday,
Nov. 4, well before sunset and stayed a
15-minute walk from the arena. After the
game, Ryan walked back to the hotel. He
stayed behind when the team returned to
Detroit the next morning, and the Cruise
arranged for Turell to be driven back to
Detroit when Shabbat ended. The Cruise

Arn Tellem

continued on page 38

Turell practices
with the team.