The traditional Media Day of NBA All-Star Weekend was held Saturday in Los Angeles, with Israeli fans focused on one player in particular: Deni Avdija, who is set to make a historic appearance in the NBA All-Star Game.
Avdija arrived in the city accompanied by a film crew from his team, the Portland Trail Blazers, which documented his landing and will follow him throughout the special weekend.
“Dream come true. You work hard, you sacrifice and you're being patient and good things happen,” Avdija said after seeing for the first time his jersey bearing his name and the Israeli flag.
Speaking later with reporters, Avdija addressed his selection to the All-Star Game. “Wow, it’s amazing. I don’t really have words other than to say I worked very, very hard for this. Nothing comes easy. I sacrificed a lot over the years. I hope to stay at this level for a long time. It’s fun to know it’s possible,” he said.
On the Israeli flag displayed on his jersey, Avdija said: “I’m happy to represent the country on the biggest stage. You walk into the room and see the shirt with your name and the flag — it’s very emotional, especially for a player who has come a long way to reach this moment.”
He also addressed fans in Israel who will wake up in the middle of the night to watch the game. “First of all, thank you for waking up and sacrificing your sleep. I know it’s not easy. So many of you voted for me and follow me — I feel like I’m playing together with the people of Israel on the court,” he said.
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Deni Avdija holds up his jersey bearing his name and the Israeli flag
(Photo: from NBA's Instagram account)
Asked what he would tell his younger self, Avdija said: “That everything happens for the best. At first, I wasn’t in the best place in the world, because Washington was my home in the end. But I arrived in such a good situation, people are embracing me, and I’m not sure I could have reached where I am today if I hadn’t gone through that path.”
This year’s All-Star Game will be held in a new format: three teams competing in 12-minute mini-games. Two teams will consist of American players — “The Stars” and “The Stripes” — while the third team, which includes Avdija, will represent the rest of the world.
Team World will first face “The Stars.” The winner will advance to another game against “The Stripes,” while the loser will also face “The Stripes” in a separate matchup. After the three mini-games, standings will be determined by number of wins and, if necessary, point differential. The two teams with the best records will advance to the final, which will also be played in a 12-minute format.