Deni Avdija

Israeli basketball player Raz Adam pronounced dead after car crash in Galilee Panhandle

Adam was driving his vehicle during the crash, which occured on Highway 90. The driver of the other vehicle was lightly injured and evacuated to Ziv Medical Center, Safed, by MDA paramedics.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Israeli basketball player Raz Adam shares a picture of himself on his personal X/Twitter.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS Israeli forward Deni Avdija drives on Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie for two of his game-high 41 points in the Blazers’ 114-110 victory

Blazers ride Avdija's late heroics to play-in victory over Suns

Avdija's ability to control the game stood out as much as the scoring. Avdija shot 15-of-22 from the field, added 12 assists, and dictated the tempo throughout his 38 minutes on the court.

|ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
BROOKLYN NETS rookie guard Ben Saraf drives for a layup against fellow Israeli Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers during their teams’ duel in New York.

Blue-and-white in Brooklyn: Avdija, Saraf shine during historic night for Israeli hoops

Thousands of Israeli and Jewish fans packed the arena in Brooklyn, turning it into a sea of blue and white, as three Israelis shared the same NBA court for the very first time.

|ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS Israeli forward Deni Avdija heads to the locker room after suffering an injury against the Phoenix Suns early in the first half on Sunday night.

Avdija leaves Blazers’ victory over Suns just one minute in with back injury

During Portland’s second offensive possession, Avdija felt discomfort while backing down his defender in the post. Almost immediately, he signaled that something wasn’t right.

|ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF

Deni Avdija’s all-star moment: A political dtatement in disguise - opinion

In today’s Western cultural institutions, Israeli visibility rarely exists in neutral space.

FEBRUARY 23, 2026ByLINDA ARGALGI SADACKA
Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets and Team USA Stripes shoots against Deni Avdija #8 of the Toronto Raptors and Team World during the 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome on February 15, 2026 in Inglewood, California.

Spike Lee says pro-Palestinian NBA All-Star Game outfit not meant as dig against Deni Avdija

Lee wore a keffiyeh-patterned sweater and a bag strap with Palestinian flag badges. Critics claimed he specifically chose the outfit because of the presence of Israel's first All-Star Game player.

FEBRUARY 18, 2026ByPHILISSA CRAMER/JTA
Spike Lee at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game held at the Intuit Dome on Feb. 15, 2026 in Los Angeles.

Spike Lee, Kyrie Irving wear pro-Palestinian outfits to NBA All-Star Game featuring Israeli player

Lee wore a keffiyeh-patterned sweater and flag badges while Irving wore a Wear the Peace "PRESS" shirt, which was "dedicated to our beloved journalists in Gaza, showing the world the truth."

FEBRUARY 16, 2026ByPHILISSA CRAMER/JTA
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Spike Lee and John Tesh watch during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome.

'I heard great things': LeBron James faces backlash after praising Deni Avdija, Israel

The Los Angeles Lakers forward said he heard "nothing but great things" about Israel while discussing Avdija, the first Israeli to feature in the NBA All-Star Game.

FEBRUARY 16, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Portland, Oregon, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket during the second half against Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) at Moda Center, Feb 20, 2025.

The backlash to Lebron James' praise of Israel is jarring, but predictable - comment

Lebron James was answering a question about Deni Avdija, the first Israeli to feature in an NBA All-Star Game, when he made positive comments about Israel, prompting the online criticism.

FEBRUARY 16, 2026ByALEX C. MICHAEL
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team USA Stripes forward LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball in game four against Team Stars during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome.

Israeli basketball star Deni Avdija makes history at the NBA All-Star Game

"It's a dream come true," Avdija said before the tournament, holding his Team World uniform with the Israeli flag and his number 8. 

FEBRUARY 16, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets and Team USA Stripes shoots against Deni Avdija #8 of the Toronto Raptors and Team World during the 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome on February 15, 2026 in Inglewood, California.

Maccabi Tel Aviv to auction NBA All-Star Deni Avdija’s final game-worn jersey

The auction will open Thursday at 5 p.m. Israel time on the club’s official online store, with bidding set to close Sunday at 6 p.m., hours before Avdija's NBA All-Star game.

FEBRUARY 11, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
NBA star and former Maccabi Tel Aviv player Deni Avdija's signed shirt.

Iran’s supreme leader tells Eretz Nehederet he’s bored of bingeing TV in his bunker

Eretz Nehederet shifted focus from Trump to a bunker-bound Khamenei, mocking Iran-US tensions, Israeli defense systems, and domestic politics amid mounting war anxiety.

FEBRUARY 5, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN
Eretz Nehederet parodies Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, February 4, 2026.

Deni Avdija first Israeli to be an NBA All-Star, Gaza hospital director revealed as Hamas colonel

The Jerusalem Post's must-listen news roundup with Shifra Jacobs—the top stories, clear and concise.

FEBRUARY 2, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST PODCASTS
Feb 29, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija (8)drives past Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena.

Israel’s basketball powerhouse: Deni Avdija’s meteoric rise to NBA stardom

Deni Avdija has become the fulcrum of Portland’s offense and one of the most productive two-way forwards in the league.

JANUARY 31, 2026ByASHER SMITH
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS forward Deni Avdija (8) scores a basket during the first half against Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.