Adi Gordon: Individual Change is Key, Not Collective Action

Adi Gordon, one of Israel's greatest basketball players, rarely grants interviews, but when he does, he focuses on core values and the ethical path that guided him as an athlete and continues to inform his work as a consultant for companies and organizations over the past three decades. He shares his philosophy, termed 'the message of simplicity,' which provides tools for inner work, through study groups. Gordon recently agreed to an interview on the podcast 'HaDibbur' with Sarit Sussman, whose son fell in Gaza during Operation Iron Swords and who supported Hapoel Jerusalem. In the podcast, Gordon discussed his views on society and the individuals within it.

Gordon described an internal awakening in the 1990s, where despite abundant love, he questioned his motivations amidst success. He realized that while the player scoring the winning basket is celebrated, it's a collective effort, emphasizing that unity is constant and requires nurturing. "We are dependent on each other all the time. This is a fact, not a philosophy," he stated.

He explained that his ultimate desire is for an internal state of being, not external achievements like trophies, money, or relationships, which he views as tools serving his existence. True fulfillment, he believes, comes from within, from a state of self-acceptance and worthiness. External validation, while momentarily euphoric, does not alter one's fundamental emotional or psychological state, likening it to a temporary drug.

Gordon asserted that one's state of being is determined by internal emotional, psychological, and cognitive instincts, which only the individual can change. He stressed personal responsibility for one's inner world, rejecting victimhood. "A group cannot make a change, a community cannot make a change. A nation cannot make a change, only an individual can make a change and it is their full responsibility," he declared.

Reflecting on a shared trophy lift with Doron Shefa in Hapoel Jerusalem's second State Cup win, Gordon recounted promising his friend, who is older and a rare, kind person, that he would lift the cup. Despite being underdogs against Maccabi Tel Aviv, he felt compelled to honor his promise, highlighting brotherhood and friendship. He contrasted this with the 1996 cup win where he scored the game-winning basket, noting that in his experience, the fans were more present than the defender guarding him.