Four hours from where Casey Prather was recovering from a serious injury, war waged.
Plying his trade in Israel, the Brisbane Bullets guard felt assured he was removed from the danger, yet fearful of what might come next.
Before the Israel-Hamas conflict, the American spent three seasons with the Hapoel Eilat team, guiding them to the semi-finals in his first year.
Casey Prather has taken a long, and at time painful, road to get to the Brisbane Bullets.Credit: Getty Images
However, he was unable to steer them further ahead, having suffered back-to-back knee injuries – a patella tendon setback and fractured kneecap – before healing in time to make a comeback in Australia.
It was around this time when the early signs of the coming conflict were apparent, far away enough for Prather to be unaffected, but close enough to make him wary of the imminent danger.
“I was actually there when they had a different war, the same kind of set-up, but it was just more intense after I left – this last two years was when it was really heightened,” Prather says.
“It was definitely a different experience to be in a country when war is going on. I was actually in Eilat, which is like a four-hour drive from Tayibe where all the war and bombs and impact was going on.
“I was essentially unaffected by it, but it was always just scary, the thought that was actually happening.”
What did not change was Prather’s desire for more championship glory.
Prather is a born winner. It is a big part of how he defines himself, having won three NBL titles with Perth Wildcats (two) and Melbourne United (one).
Graduating from the University of Florida after success in college basketball, the sport has become deeply embedded in his life – and enhanced by his wife Ariana, who holds the all-time point-scoring record at her high school and reports from the NBL sidelines.
Casey Prather during his time with Melbourne United.Credit: Getty Images
The 33-year-old returned from two years off in January in an attempt to help the Bullets reach a drought-breaking finals campaign.
Prather declares he never felt his physical pain would force him into retirement, and the birth of his son Deuce in May fuelled his determination to pursue another trophy.
“God forbid one day if an injury happens to him, I want him to be able to look at me and say ‘you were able to get through it, I’m able to get through it as well’,” Prather says.
“It becomes bigger than just my body or basketball, it’s more of an inspiration to him to let him know he can overcome any adversity thrown his way.
“A lot of people approach it as just a game, but we approach it as a way of life. I provide for my family doing so – I take it as much more than a game.”
Prather helped end Brisbane’s winless start to the season at the weekend, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists to conquer the Phoenix before a home showdown with the undefeated Breakers on Thursday night.
While the Bullets have not tasted championship success since 2007, just two years before the club collapsed for nearly a decade, the veteran is adamant they possess a triumphant squad.
Youngsters still finding their feet in Josh Bannon and Rocco Zikarsky have been building off seasoned campaigners such as Mitch Norton, and Prather believes the process being implemented by coach Justin Schueller is beginning to take effect.
Even in the midst of their losing streak, he had a constant mantra running through his mind.
“When I have tough spells, I just have to remind myself I love this game so much also because I win on the court.”
Casey Prather
“I like to just remember that I’m a winner, so every time I go out there and play, every time I have a bad game I try to look at the grand scope of things, and for me, the grand scope of things is at the end of the year, holding up the championship.
“I think we have the team, the make-up and the character to go out and do something special. I do believe in this team, and I do believe we can do something special and win a championship.
“Right now we’re a little too affected by whether the ball goes into the hole … but that’s just a sign of a new group trying to get together, trying to figure things out.
“We’ve got to be able to move onto the next play.”
