Deni Avdija Surprises Us Again
From the Wizards’ bench to Portland’s powerhouse: The "Israeli Prince" officially joins the world's basketball elite for the 2026 showcase in Los Angeles.
It’s no longer just a "Zionist dream", it’s official NBA reality. Deni Avdija has been named to the 2026 NBA All-Star roster, becoming the first Israeli in history to be recognized as one of the 24 greatest basketball players on the planet.
The announcement, which dropped late Sunday night, confirms that the Portland Trail Blazers forward will represent the "World Team" on February 15th at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Avdija will take the floor alongside global icons like Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The "World" Against the USA
Under the NBA’s revamped 2026 format, Avdija won't just be playing a standard exhibition. He is a cornerstone of the International squad in a high-stakes "Three-Team Tournament."
The format features two American teams and one "World" team competing in a series of 12-minute sprints, with the top two teams advancing to a championship final.
Despite narrowly missing the fan-voted starting lineup (finishing 7th in Western Conference voting), NBA coaches corrected the oversight by selecting Avdija as a primary reserve, a testament to the league-wide respect he has earned during his meteoric breakout season.
By the Numbers: A Superstar is Born
Avdija’s journey from a "role player" in Washington to an All-Star in Portland is nothing short of miraculous.
Deni’s meteoric rise is best captured by his transition from a rookie averaging just 6.3 points, 1.2 assists, and 4.9 rebounds to a dominant All-Star force putting up 25.5 points (14th in the NBA), 6.7 assists (13th), and 7.2 rebounds per contest.
His November run was particularly historic, averaging 27.1 points and logging two of his four career triple-doubles.
Even a nagging back injury in late January couldn't derail his momentum; the league’s coaches recognized that without Deni, the All-Star game simply wouldn't be complete.
The "Steal" of the Century?
In hindsight, the 4-year, $55 million contract extension Avdija signed with the Wizards in 2023 looks like one of the greatest bargains in sports history.
Currently earning a "modest" $14.3 million this year, Avdija is outperforming players making triple his salary. With this All-Star nod, industry insiders expect a massive "supermax" conversation to begin in the coming off-season.
For Israeli fans who have stayed up through countless 3:00 AM tip-offs since Deni was drafted in 2020, this isn't just a sports headline, it's a national milestone.