He shoots, he scores! Deni Avdija, player for the Portland Trail Blazers, has been selected as the first-ever Israeli NBA All-Star player, making history for the boys and girls across Israel who look up to him. As of February 1, he will be training with the best athletes across the country to prepare for the big game on February 13.
Growing up in Kibbutz Beit Zera, in Northern Israel, Avdija had a dream of one day becoming a great basketball player.
“I started playing basketball without a dream and just [to] see, pursue it, and just see wherever it takes me, and it’s hard to believe that you just accomplish thing after thing after thing. It’s just emotional for me for sure,” Avdija said to the Times of Israel.
He began playing one day without any expectations of arriving at such a high platform. He’s come a long way from that 16-year-old boy playing in Maccabi Tel Aviv, making history one shot at a time.
“I doubted myself but I kept working on it, and I kept being patient, and I knew my opportunity to shine would come,” Avdija said to The Jerusalem Post.
After the Maccabi Tel Aviv team, Avdija played for the Washington Wizards, who drafted him in 2020. Today, his journey serves as an inspiration for young athletes in Israel and around the world.
Avidja is currently having a breakout season with the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging about 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game, which are all career highs. Due to these strong stats, he earned his first NBA All-Star selection in 2026, becoming the first Israeli player ever named an All-Star and the 17th player in Trail Blazers history to receive that honor. He also received around 2.2 million fan votes, finishing ahead of stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the voting, which shows how popular and impressive his season has been. During All-Star Weekend, he is expected to play on the international “World” team in the new tournament-style game format.
Though playing in a US team, Avdija has many Jewish and Israeli fans from all over the world. Looking into the seats of the arena, the Israeli flags waving in the crowd support Avdija as his journey continues.
“Dear people of Israel, you are my source of strength and inspiration,” Avdija said to the Olympic Team of Israel. You helped me realize my dream. This is a huge honor that cannot be described in words, and it is a privilege for me to represent the country on the biggest stage in the world. Never stop dreaming, keep working hard, believe that everything is truly possible.”
His words of gratitude show his deep connection to Israel and are a symbol of pride and inspiration for fans worldwide.
“I was so excited to see him go to the NBA All-Star, especially since I’ve seen him play before in European leagues, and as a fan of his since 2019, I am so excited to see him in many other games,” Yahli Levy (’27) said.
Fans are ready to see what’s to come with Avdija’s recent achievement as they hope to attend many other games to witness his skills.
Looking forward, Deni Avdija’s future in the NBA looks bright. With the way he has improved this season and earned All-Star recognition, he’s expected to keep playing a big role in upcoming games for the Portland Trail Blazers and continue putting up strong numbers. In the 2026 All-Star Game, many fans predict he could showcase a strong performance because of his scoring, passing, and ability to impact the game in many different ways. If Avdija keeps developing at this pace, he could become one of the top forwards in the league and a long-term star who continues to inspire fans around the world.
