Six-time NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire received his Israeli citizenship on March 13 in a ceremony at Israel’s Interior Ministry. Although the American basketball star is still in the process of converting to Judaism, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri granted him the citizenship based on his “unique contributions to Israeli society.”

Stoudemire has played for Hapoel Jerusalem of the country’s Premiere League since 2016. He immediately led his team to the Israeli Basketball League Cup. In 2017, he led the team to the Israeli League Championship. He is also a part-owner of the team, but suspended his position in order to play.