There was a very tall guy quietly dominating the back row of my spin class. I kept wondering who he was. Eventually, a friend filled me in: That’s Josh Duncan — Cincinnati native, Moeller grad, Xavier basketball star, and professional player whose career has taken him everywhere from Ashdod to Tokyo.
Yes, he’s in my spin class. No, I didn’t realize at first that he once played in front of thousands of fans in Israel, Germany, and Japan. I wanted to learn more, especially about his time in Israel. How many people in Cincinnati can say they’ve played professionally in Jerusalem and still show up for a killer spin class?
Josh was kind enough to answer a few questions about his career, his hometown roots, and what he’s up to now.
Editor’s Note: This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
You grew up in Cincinnati and played at Moeller High School — how did your hometown shape who you became on and off the court?
Cincinnati taught me the value of hard work and community, where nothing is handed to you. I carried that same mindset onto the court.
As for Moeller, the coaches didn’t just teach us how to win games; they taught us how to carry ourselves with integrity and how to be a leader. It wasn’t just about basketball; it was about preparing for life.
Cincinnati gave me grit, and Moeller gave me structure and purpose. That combination shaped how I compete, how I train, and how I try to give back now.
My Dad influenced a lot of my basketball growth as a kid. He helped me learn the game and develop my skills. As far as my love for the game, it feels like something I was born with. To this day, I still have the same love for the game that I did as a kid. Just dribbling a basketball or shooting and hearing that string music (swish sound) brings me joy.
Josh Duncan playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv (courtesy)
At Xavier University, you scored over 1,000 points and earned All‑A‑10 honors — what stands out most from those college years in Cincinnati?
There were many fun moments during my college career, but the first one that comes to mind is playing in the Elite 8 game my senior year against UCLA. Their team had a few future NBA players, including Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love. Even though we lost, it was rewarding to make it that far in the tournament and play against a high-level team like UCLA.
Overall, my time at Xavier was a great experience. I’m thankful to the school and the Xavier community for the many opportunities it gave me.
Shifting to Israel, you played for Maccabi Ashdod and Hapoel Jerusalem — did one city feel more like “home” than the other?
I enjoyed my time playing in Israel. I spent 5 years there, which made it feel like a second home. I can’t pick one city over the other because they both treated me well and were good experiences.
Having the beach right down the street from where I lived in Ashdod was amazing.
Being so close to all of the biblical and historical sites while living in Jerusalem was surreal. I enjoyed living in both cities and still keep in contact with several people there who became like family.
What was your favorite thing to eat in Israel?
The food was very good in Israel! I miss the shawarma and the hummus with the soft pita bread! I especially miss the Shabbat dinners that my family and I would go to every week. It was like a Thanksgiving dinner every Friday night. I like how they would focus on family and friend relationships during Shabbat. No cell phones or electronics. We would play card games, talk, tell jokes, and just spend quality time together.
One restaurant in Jerusalem that I have to mention is Zuni. In my opinion, this restaurant had the best French toast in the world!
You were named an Israeli Super League All‑Star in 2012 — how did that recognition impact your career and your life while abroad?
I was honored to make the All-Star team that year. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to play in it due to an injury. It wasn’t necessarily when I made the All-Star team, but when I started playing in Israel, my confidence grew tremendously as a player. I have to thank Coach Ofer Berkovich because he played a big part in that. He gave me the freedom on the court that unlocked a new level of play for me as a professional, and it carried me through the rest of my career.
After Israel, you played in Germany, Turkey, and then several seasons in Japan — how did those experiences differ culturally and professionally?
With each new place I played in, I had to adapt to the different languages, food, and professional practices within their culture. For example, driving in Israel is completely different from driving in Japan. In Israel, you will hear a lot of horns honking, and you can even create your own parking spot on the sidewalk if you want to (laughs). I was told that this is a part of the Israeli chutzpah.
In Japan, driving is very organized, and I can count on 1 hand the times I’ve heard a horn honked in the 5 years lived there. Also in Japan, you drive on the opposite side of the road, and the steering wheel is on the opposite side of the car. So I guess you can say that was a new skill I had to learn (laughs).
Josh Duncan (Courtesy)
What are you up to now, both on and off the court?
I retired in the summer of 2023. I started my own basketball training business in November of 2023, called JD Pro Hoops. I miss playing professionally, but training with the youth here in the Cincinnati community has given me a purpose while still staying involved with the game I love. I’ve been able to play in some summer leagues since I’ve retired, which helps fill the void of not playing anymore. I’m also married with 2 kids (ages 12 & 10). Between their school and sports, and just trying to spend quality time with them, they keep us busy.
