Deni Avdija is the first Israeli to be named to the NBA All-Star Game.<\/p>\n
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) \u2014 Deni Avdija\u2019s breakout season earned him an All-Star nod.<\/p>\n
The Portland Trail Blazers forward was named as a Western Conference reserve<\/a> on Sunday night.\u00a0He was among 14 reserves announced for the 2026 All-Star Game<\/a> on Feb. 15 in Inglewood, California.<\/p>\n Avdija is the first Israeli to be named an NBA All-Star. The 25-year-old was born in Beit Zera, a kibbutz on the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee.<\/p>\n Nicknamed \u201cTurbo,\u201d Avdija is averaging career bests of 25.5 points and 6.7 assists along with 7.2 rebounds in 44 games. He\u2019s one of three players averaging at least 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists, joining Nikola Joki\u0107 and Luka Don\u010di\u0107.<\/p>\n \u201cProud of him. I know he cares about this team,\u201d Blazers coach Tiago Splitter said. \u201cWhen you see a person like that succeeding, it\u2019s truly special.\u201d<\/p>\n The 6-foot-8 Avdija has three triple-doubles this season. He has reached double figures in assists nine times and scored 20 or more points 35 times. Avdija has helped steady the rebuilding Blazers through a series of injures. Portland was 23-26 and in ninth in the Western Conference<\/a> heading into Sunday\u2019s game against Cleveland.<\/p>\n Avdija was sidelined by a sore back against the Cavaliers, the sixth game he\u2019s missed in the past 10. He\u2019s the 17th player in Blazers history to be named an All-Star and the first since Damian Lillard in 2023.<\/p>\n Avdija is in his second season with the Blazers after spending his first four years with the Washington Wizards, who drafted him in the first round in 2020.<\/p>\n