A 22-second video posted by streamer N3on shows Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell putting her arm around a local rabbi on an indoor basketball court, then quickly removing it when he asks her not to touch him.
Burrell wore a white crop top and gray sweatpants as she stood on the court next to N3on and the rabbi. After a very friendly moment, the situation quickly became awkward when she touched the Jewish man’s shoulder. He politely requested:
“You can’t put your hands on my shoulders.”
Realizing the mistake, Burrell immediately took her hand away and said sorry. The streamer captioned the video on his N3onHQ X handle:
“Things get AWKWARD after a rabbi gets MAD when Rae Burrell puts her arms around him due to his religious beliefs.”
Because Rae Burrell is unfamiliar with Orthodox Judaism, she was unaware of the strict religious rules that limit physical touch between unmarried men and women. The interaction confused many fans on X. A handful of them even took issue with the old man’s reaction. However, the rabbi was just following his personal religious beliefs.
Rae Burrell credits nonstop grind for breakout season
Rae Burrell was the No. 9 pick in the 2022 draft. She currently averages 14.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Her standout season includes 10 20-point games and 30 double-digit scoring efforts.
This year, the 26-year-old joined the Unrivaled league and also suited up for Team USA during the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament in March. Her continuous play throughout the year established one of the most productive stretches of her professional career.
Burrell returned from a leg injury at the start of July last year, playing the final 27 games of the WNBA season through September. Since then, she has pushed through a nonstop 15-month basketball grind, playing straight through the calendar except for the brief league break.
Reflecting on her relentless schedule, Burrell told Russo Writes:
“I think just putting in the work after the season, immediately getting into the gym and working on the things that I need to work on, and then I think that just helped me going into Unrivaled.”
As she heads into free agency this winter, her ability to play through a grueling schedule makes her one of the most valuable young wings in the league.
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Edited by Sami Haider
