Excellent Israeli NBA Basketball Player Runs Into A Lot Of Anti-Semitism

 Nadene Goldfoot                                            

Deni Avdija is an Israeli professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. He plays the small forward position, and is nicknamed "Turbo" for his fast-paced drive and aggressive playing style. Prior to the NBA, he played for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel. He's the son of a basketball player, Zufer Avdija, who is an Israeli citizen with a Muslim-Gorani heritage  who played basketball for the Yugoslavia national team before moving to Israel to play for Israeli teams.  His mother,  Sharon Artzi, an Israeli Jew from the kibbutz Avdija, was born on  kibbutz Beit Zera in Israel. and is a former track and field and basketball player.  

Deni Avdija, playing for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2026, has established himself as a premier "point-forward" and became the first Israeli NBA All-Star. While acclaimed for his high-level performance—averaging over 26 points and 7 rebounds—he faces intense scrutiny and online hate regarding his pro-Israel stance amidst the ongoing conflict.

Deni Avdija says he’s fed up with the hate he receives for being from Israel, calls out the lack of education on the topic, and demands respect, saying those outside the Middle East shouldn’t speak on it

“You don’t have to love what I stand for or how I look, but if I’m a good player, give props. All this hate … for no reason. Like, I’m deciding things in the world. I’ll be honest: What do people expect me to do? This is my country, where I was born, where I grew up. I love my country; there are a lot of great things about my country. But obviously, not everyone is educated and knows what is going on, and that’s what pisses me off. Because if you are educated and know what is going on, it’s fine to say what you think and say who you think is right or wrong. But if you are not educated and you are not part of the Middle East, and you don’t understand how long this goes back and understand the consequences and everything … just don’t say anything.”

On 2 March 2025, Avdija recorded his first career triple-double with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in 133–129 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Avdija averaged 23.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists over the 13 games he played in March 2025, doing so while shooting 51.0% on field goals, and 45.7% on three-point attempts. This was the most productive month of Avdija's career up to this point, garnering attention from multiple sources across the league. On 2 April, Avdija posted his second career triple-double with 32 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists leading the Blazers to a 127–115 overtime win over the Atlanta Hawks.

After a strong first third of the 2025–26 season, highlighted by triple-doubles against the Chicago Bulls, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the San Antonio Spurs, Avdija averaged 25.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in 35.2 minutes per game, emerging as the team’s primary offensive option. 

On 5 January 2026, Avdija was named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week for Week 11 (29 December – 4 January), for the first time in his career, after averaging 26.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.8 assists during a 3–1 week for the Blazers. 

On 7 January, Avdija scored a season-high 41 points in a 103–102 win over the Houston Rockets. 

On 1 February, Avdija was named to his first All-Star Game as a Western Conference reserve, becoming the first player of Israeli descent to become an All-Star in NBA history.

April 12's news was that Trail Blazers beat the Kings 122-110 to clinch the No. 8 seed and a play-in spot

The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Sacramento Kings 122-110 to clinch the No. 8 seed and a spot in the...PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — 
Deni Avdija had 25 points and 10 assists, Jrue Holiday scored 23 points, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Sacramento Kings 122-110 on Sunday night to clinch the No. 8 seed and a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament.

Portland will head to Phoenix to play the seventh-seeded Suns on Tuesday night, with the winner advancing to a first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs.

• Portland Trail Blazers: Following his trade from Washington, Avdija has become a key player in Portland, sometimes described as the "new face of the Blazers".
  
                         Official Team World All Star Poster
• All-Star Status: As of February 2026, he was named an NBA All-Star, marking a milestone for Israeli basketball.
• Playing Style: Known for his versatility as a forward, he is recognized for driving to the rim and improved outside shooting.
• Key Performances: He has recorded high-scoring games, including a 35-point, 12-rebound, 5-assist performance against the Orlando Magic. 

Resource:

wikipedia

https://www.foxsports.com/nba/deni-avdija-player