Sportsדני אבדיה
Deni Avdija
Deni Avdija is an Israeli basketball player who plays in the NBA for the Portland Trail Blazers.
born 2001Israeli NBA player2020 Israeli league MVPIsrael national basketball team
- Born
- 3 January 2001, Beit Zera
- Occupation
- basketball player
- Education
- Tichon Hadash
Deni Avdija was born in 2001 in Beit Zera
Deni Avdija was born on 3 January 2001 in kibbutz Beit Zera and grew up in Herzliya. His mother, Sharon Artzi, is a former basketball player from the kibbutz. His father, Zufer Avdija, played basketball for Yugoslavia before moving to Israel.
He played football as a child and began basketball in fourth grade in Herzliya. In 2013 he joined the youth ranks of Maccabi Tel Aviv and later attended Tichon Hadash high school. He chose to play for Israel's national team rather than Serbia's.
In 2020 he enlisted in the IDF with the status of an exceptional athlete.
He debuted for Maccabi Tel Aviv's senior team in 2017. In 2020 he won the Israeli league title and the league MVP award. The Washington Wizards picked him 9th in the 2020 NBA draft, and in 2024 he was traded to Portland.
In 2025 he was chosen to light a torch at the Independence Day ceremony on Mount Herzl.
Milestones in Deni Avdija's life
- 2013
Joined the Maccabi Tel Aviv youth ranks.
- 2017
Made his debut for Maccabi Tel Aviv's senior team.
- 2019
Named MVP of the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship.
- 2020
Won the Israeli league title and the league MVP award.
- 2020
Drafted 9th overall by the Washington Wizards.
- 2023
Agreed to a 4-year, $55 million contract extension.
- 2024
Scored a career high of 43 points against New Orleans.
- 2024
Traded to the Portland Trail Blazers.
- 2025
Lit a torch at the Independence Day ceremony.
Deni Avdija served in the military
He deferred his IDF service and enlisted in 2020 with the status of an exceptional athlete.
Deni Avdija received 2 awards and honours
- Independence Day (Israel) torchbearer
- Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP
Deni Avdija in the news
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Based on English Wikipedia, Deni Avdija and Hebrew Wikipedia, דני אבדיה, under CC BY-SA 4.0. The facts are Wikidata's.
Photograph: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0
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