This interview has been a long time coming. The guest of this episode is the one and only, the Palestinian professional basketball player, Sani Sakakini. Sani and I recorded this in person in Taipei in late September, 2025.
Sani played for the Palestinian National Basketball Team from 2006-2021, and is considered the first and most important professional basketball player from Palestine. Sani’s professional career has taken him around the world, including to Jordan, China, Venezuela, Lebanon, and now Taiwan. Sani continues to make history. How did Sani find the path to basketball? What was it like being the first, having to create the opportunities you hoped to have as a young Palestinian athlete? What was the basketball scene like in the West Bank?
Sani also shares with us the reality of life for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, with his personal experiences growing up during the Second Intifada. When Sani was just a teenager, an experience at the Container Checkpoint really stood out to him…
Currently, Sani is playing for another season with the New Taipei Kings in Taiwan. Last year, the New Taipei Kings won the championship of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League. What was that moment like for Sani? What does he look forward to for this season in Taiwan? You’ll hear it from himself.
Towards the end, Sani also shares some words, especially to the people in Taiwan, and what he hopes for– for his homeland, Palestine.
[This interview was recorded in late September, 2025. Sani Sakakini was speaking in his individual capacity.]
Follow Sani on Instagram: @beastsakakini
Check out @sharonlin_human for video highlights of this interview
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