Tanhum Cohen-Mintz facts for kids
Cohen-Mintz playing for Israel against Poland, 1962
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| Center | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 18, 1939 Riga, Latvia |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Died | October 11, 2014 (aged 75) Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8.5 in (2.04 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| Pro career | 1956–1972 |
| Career history | |
| 1956–1972 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Tanhum Cohen-Mintz (born October 18, 1939 – died October 11, 2014) was a famous Israeli basketball player. People also called him "Tani." He was very tall, about 6 feet 8.5 inches (2.04 meters), and played as a center. This position is usually for the tallest player on the team.
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Early Life and Sports Beginnings
Tanhum Cohen-Mintz was born in Riga, Latvia. He was Jewish. He first started his sports journey in tennis. His mother, Edith Cohen-Mintz, was a tennis champion in Israel during the 1950s. Tanhum himself became Israel's junior tennis champion.
A famous basketball coach, Yehoshua Rozin, saw him playing tennis. Coach Rozin was very impressed by Tanhum's height and athletic skills. He convinced Tanhum to switch from tennis to basketball.
Basketball Career Highlights
Tanhum Cohen-Mintz played for the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team for his entire club career. He was a key player for them.
He was chosen to be part of the FIBA European Selection All-Star Teams in both 1964 and 1965. This means he was considered one of the best players in Europe.
He also played for, and was the captain of, the senior Israeli national basketball team. He played for Israel 89 times between 1958 and 1971. During these games, he scored a total of 1,076 points.
In 1961, Tanhum Cohen-Mintz was named Israel's Sportsman of the Year. Later, in 1998, a newspaper called Ma'ariv said he was one of the five best basketball players in Israel's history.
Personal Life
Tanhum Cohen-Mintz had a son named Uri Cohen-Mintz. Uri also became a basketball player. Like his father, Uri also played for Israel's national basketball team.
Later Years and Passing
Tanhum Cohen-Mintz passed away on October 11, 2014. He was 75 years old. He died from cancer.
