Deni Avdija, the Israeli NBA star whose breakout season with the Portland Trail Blazers has garnered him widespread recognition, said in a New York Times profile this week that he is frustrated that his on-court success has been marred by the hate he receives as an Israeli.
“I’m an athlete. I don’t really get into politics, because it’s not my job,” Avdija told The Athletic, the New York Times-owned sports outlet.
“I obviously stand for my country, because that’s where I’m from. It’s frustrating to see all the hate. Like, I have a good game or get All-Star votes, and all the comments [on social media] are people connecting me to politics. Like, why can’t I just be a good basketball player? Why does it matter if I’m from Israel, or wherever in the world, or what my race is? Just respect me as a basketball player.”
He added, “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.”
He continued, “I’m from there, and I respect my country, and I stand behind it. I’m a proud Israeli because that’s where I grew up. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for Israel and the support the people and fans gave me. But all the extra stuff around it? It’s just unnecessary.”
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In 41 games so far this season, marking the season’s midway point, Avdija, 25, a native of Kibbutz Beit Zera in northern Israel, has led Portland to a 22-21 record while averaging 26.2 points, 6.9 assists and 7.1 rebounds per game, marking a major jump from his previous career highs.
The next-level performance has led Avdija to become the odds-on favorite to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, according to the sports gambling website FanDuel, and to receive the seventh-most votes from fans for this year’s All-Star Game.
But Avdija has also been dealing with a lingering back injury, which caused him to leave the floor during Portland’s game on Thursday against the Miami Heat.
Avdija’s emergence as a star has been attributed partly to a decision toward the end of last season by Portland head coach Chauncey Billups — who is currently suspended after being arrested for alleged involvement in an illegal gambling scheme — to have Avdija, a 6′ 8″ small forward, run the Trail Blazers’ offense upon rebounding the ball, instead of passing it to other teammates.
“When I started to play like that, my confidence kind of got built up,” Avdija told The Athletic. “Chauncey would always tell me he thought I could be great. He saw things in parts of my game that I didn’t value as much, and I appreciate that.”
This year, following a series of injuries to Portland’s primary point guards, interim head coach Tiago Splitter decided to give Avdija the reins of the Trail Blazers’ offense despite not having previously played the point guard position, leading to his surprising ascendancy this year after five prior unremarkable seasons with Portland and the Washington Wizards.
“People have to understand: He is just carrying us,” Splitter told The Athletic. “And he’s doing it playing a different position.”
As his name recognition has increased throughout the course of this season, Avdija has been conspicuously quiet about his opinions regarding Israel.
“I’ll be honest: What do people expect me to do?” Avdija told The Athletic. “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.”
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, left, drives to the basket as New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby, right, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Portland, Oregon. (AP/Amanda Loman)
He continued, “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.”
Avdija left Thursday’s game less than two minutes into the second half, and the team officially ruled him out later in the third quarter.
In post-game remarks, Avdija and Splitter downplayed the injury, saying the Israeli would be playing in Portland’s next game.
He recently missed three consecutive games due to lower-back soreness. He played in each of the team’s first 40 games before the injury. This was his second game back in uniform.
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