Jewish excellence earns global support, while hatred erupts as Israel-backed talent outshines rivals on merit.
The NBA released updated fan-voting results Wednesday night for the NBA All-Star Game, and one name near the top of the Western Conference guard rankings is drawing extraordinary attention—Deni Avdija.
Ranked seventh among Western Conference guards, the Portland Trail Blazers star has amassed roughly 606,000 fan votes, reflecting a season of elite production: 25.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. Avdija has repeatedly carried Portland to victories, establishing himself as both the team’s primary scorer and an on-court leader.
Avdija’s strong showing placed him ahead of global superstars such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant, igniting a wave of backlash across social media—particularly among Arab and pro-Arab users. Much of the outrage fixated not on basketball performance, but on Avdija’s Israeli and Jewish identity. Claims ranged from “IDF bots” to conspiracies involving U.S. President Donald Trump’s support for Israel, alongside antisemitic jabs invoking ancient tropes.
The reaction was especially intense in Turkey, where anger spilled inward. Turkish fans and media lamented the comparatively low vote total for their own NBA representative, Alperen Şengün of the Houston Rockets. Commentators chastised domestic apathy, noting that Şengün received roughly half of Avdija’s votes. “Israel stands behind its star,” one Turkish commentary admitted, “while we don’t even bother to open an account.”
The episode underscores a broader truth: organized support and national pride translate into results, while resentment and excuses do not. Avdija’s rise is powered by performance—and backed by fans who show up. The fury it provoked reveals less about basketball and more about the discomfort some feel when Jewish excellence succeeds openly, visibly, and unapologetically on the world stage.
