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 now as a consultant for companies and organizations. He shares his philosophy, "The Message of Simplicity," which offers tools for inner work, through study groups. Gordon recently spoke on the "HaDibbur" podcast, hosted by Sarit Sussman, whose son fell in Gaza during Operation Iron Swords. In the interview, Gordon discussed his views on society and the individuals within it.

Gordon described an internal awakening in the 1990s, where amidst his success, he questioned his motivations. He realized that while individual achievements like scoring the winning basket are celebrated, they are only possible through the collective effort of the team. "Unity exists all the time. What do we feed it? Do we want brotherhood as a way of life? There is work to be done there. We are dependent on each other all the time. This is a fact, not a philosophy," he stated.

He explained that his true desire is not external validation but an internal state of being, a feeling of wholeness and self-worth. External achievements like trophies, money, or relationships can bring temporary joy but do not alter fundamental emotional or psychological states. "Everything that comes from outside, a trophy, a championship, a hundred million in the bank, relationships, that the world will love me with true love... it will warm my heart, I will have moments of euphoria, but it will not change any emotional, psychological instinct that determines my state. It's like a drug that will drug me for a moment," Gordon elaborated.

Gordon emphasized that personal well-being is determined by one's internal emotional, psychological, and cognitive state, which only the individual can change. He stressed personal responsibility, stating, "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. Not to be a victim of reality, 'they took from me, they drank from me.'"

Reflecting on a shared trophy lift with Doron Shefa after a surprising win in the 1998 State Cup final against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Gordon highlighted the importance of fulfilling promises to friends and the concept of brotherhood. He contrasted this with his 1996 cup-winning shot, where he felt the fans' presence more than the defender's.

The "HaDibbur" initiative was founded by families of fallen soldiers from the current war, aiming to promote respectful discourse in Israeli society amidst polarization. Ahead of elections, they launched the "Speaking Differently" campaign, encouraging Israelis from various backgrounds to speak respectfully, listen to differing opinions without viewing others as enemies, and remember their shared national identity.