Israeli excellence shines globally as Deni Avdija breaks barriers, disproving efforts to sideline Israel.
Israeli basketball star Deni Avdija etched his name into sporting history Sunday night after being selected to the NBA All-Star Game roster, becoming the first Israeli ever to reach the league’s most prestigious showcase.
The All-Star Game will be held on February 15 at the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers, where Avdija will represent the Western Conference coming off the bench. After finishing seventh in fan voting among Western Conference players, his selection confirms what statistics and performances have already proven — Israel belongs at the very top of world basketball.
Now in his sixth NBA season and second with the Portland Trail Blazers, Avdija is delivering career-best numbers, averaging 25.5 points per game while shooting efficiently from both the field and beyond the arc. His rise follows four formative seasons with the Washington Wizards, who drafted him ninth overall in 2020.
Avdija will compete as part of the international “World Team,” standing alongside global superstars such as Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—a powerful symbol of Israel’s place among elite nations, even as political and cultural forces attempt to marginalize it.
Israel Basketball Association chairman Amos Frishman hailed the achievement as a landmark moment, calling Avdija an ambassador for Israeli sport and national pride. In a year that introduced a new All-Star format pitting American teams against international players, Avdija’s presence ensures Israel is visible, respected, and impossible to ignore on the global stage.
