Blazers’ Deni Avdija becomes the inaugural Israeli player selected as an NBA All-Star.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Deni Avdija’s impressive season has earned him a spot in the All-Star game.
The forward for the Portland Trail Blazers was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference on Sunday evening. He is one of 14 reserves revealed for the All-Star event scheduled for Feb. 15 in Inglewood, California.
Avdija is the first player from Israel to receive an NBA All-Star selection. The 25-year-old hails from Beit Zera, a kibbutz located on the southern banks of the Sea of Galilee.
Known as “Turbo,” Avdija is posting career-high averages of 25.5 points, 6.7 assists, and 7.2 rebounds over 44 games. He is one of only three players achieving at least 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, alongside Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic.
“I’m proud of him. I know he is dedicated to this team,” said Blazers coach Tiago Splitter. “Witnessing someone like him thrive is genuinely remarkable.”
The 6-foot-8 Avdija has recorded three triple-doubles this season. He has achieved double-digit assists on nine occasions and scored 20 or more points 35 times.
With a shooting percentage of 46.7% from the field, Avdija has played a crucial role in stabilizing the rebuilding Blazers amid a series of injuries. Portland held a record of 23-26 and was positioned ninth in the Western Conference prior to Sunday’s matchup against Cleveland.
Avdija was unable to play due to a sore back against the Cavaliers, marking the sixth game he has missed in the last ten.
He becomes the 17th player in the history of the Blazers to be named an All-Star and the first since Damian Lillard in 2023.
Avdija is currently in his second season with the Blazers after spending his initial four years with the Washington Wizards, who selected him in the first round of the 2020 draft.
This year’s All-Star event will feature a tournament format — U.S. vs. the World, with three teams of at least eight players competing in 12-minute games in a round-robin setup. The top two teams will face off for the championship.
Avdija is expected to join Doncic, Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama, among others, on the World team.
