For Israelis, the moment when Deni Avdija steps onto the NBA All-Star court tonight will be about far more than basketball.
It represents the celebration – and acceptance – of Israeli pride on the global stage.
For the first time, a basketball player born and raised in Israel will take part in the All-Star Game, the NBA league’s premier showcase, an event reserved for just 24 of the world’s most elite players. Millions in Israel are expected to tune in to watch Avdija take part.
The 25-year-old, a forward for the Portland Trail Blazers, earned his place not as a symbolic selection but through overwhelming public support.
More than 2.2 million fans voted for his inclusion; more than global superstars such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden received.
For a player who initially harboured modest ambitions for his career in the sport, being selected to the All-Star game feels almost unreal.
“I started playing basketball without a dream, just to pursue it and see wherever it would take me,” Avdija said. “It’s hard to believe that you accomplish thing after thing after thing. It’s emotional for me. I’m really happy that I’m able to be an All-Star.”
Avdija is enjoying an outstanding breakout season as he averages 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists. He is the undeniable superstar of Portland, who were deemed a weak team early in the season but, under Deni's leadership, have now won 26 of their 56 matches and might now even advance to the playoffs.
Across Israel, anticipation is building ahead to tonight’s match. Hundreds of thousands are expected to stay up through the night to watch the game live despite the time difference while thousands more Israelis and Jews from around the world are heading to Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome – one of the NBA’s newest and most advanced arenas – to witness the occasion in person.
President Isaac Herzog congratulated Avdija on X, calling him “a true source of Israeli pride” and “a great inspiration, showing everyone that it is possible to aim high and realise their dreams”.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised the player, writing: “Deni, every time you step onto the court, our country beams with pride. For the People of Israel you aren’t just any star – you are OUR Star of David!”
Avdija was raised and shaped at Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel’s flagship sports club — an institution that has won the European Championship six times but until now has never before produced an NBA All-Star.
Maccabi Tel Aviv president Shimon Mizrahi told the JC: “This is a tremendous source of pride for us and a moment of real happiness. But beyond his outstanding talent, what truly sets Deni apart is his humility. He carries himself with modesty and with a deep sense of responsibility. He makes it clear that he represents not only himself or his team, but the State of Israel and Jews around the world. Many of them see in him something they have never seen before — an athlete from our community reaching the highest stage in the world’s most popular league.”
On the All-Star court, Avdija will share the spotlight with some of basketball’s biggest names: Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama, Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo. For Israel – a country not traditionally associated with global basketball dominance – the symbolism is striking.
Avdija’s journey to this stage was anything but predictable. Born in Herzliya to a kibbutz-born mother and a Serbian father, he initially played football before a dramatic growth spurt redirected him toward basketball. His father, Zufer Avdija, a former professional player of Serbian origin, is Muslim. Deni has spoken openly about his identity, saying he considers himself Jewish while embracing his dual Jewish and Muslim heritage.
Throughout his NBA career, Avdija has expressed his connection to Israel publicly. While playing for the Washington Wizards, he marked Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day by writing “Yizkor” (“will remember”) in Hebrew on his shoes. On another occasion, he wrote “Am Yisrael Chai” (“the Jewish people live”) and drew Stars of David on his shoes.
But representing Israel on the global stage has also brought scrutiny.
As tensions in the Middle East reverberated internationally, Avdija became the target of online attacks tied to his nationality and his mandatory military service in the Israel Defence Forces.
Some widely circulated posts accused him of being complicit in political and military decisions, drawing thousands of reactions and shares.
In interviews in the United States, Avdija addressed the criticism directly.
“I’m an athlete. I don’t really get into politics, because it’s not my job,” he said. “I obviously stand for my country, because that’s where I’m from. It’s frustrating to see all the hate. Why can’t I just be a good basketball player? Why does it matter if I’m from Israel?
“All this hate… for no reason. Like, I’m deciding things in the world.”
Even the public congratulations from Israeli leaders sparked debate abroad. Australia’s ABC published a profile questioning whether political endorsements could complicate his global image, noting that high-level political attention can sometimes intensify existing tensions.
Avdija did not directly respond to either the praise or the criticism surrounding it. Instead, he returned to a simple message.
“I’m a proud Israeli,” he said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Israel and the people who supported me.”
Tonight, when Avdija steps onto the All-Star court, he will do so as one of the NBA’s elite – and as a symbol far larger than himself. For millions watching in the middle of the night back home, the moment represents more than basketball.
It represents arrival.
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