Deni Avdija makes history as first Israeli to play as NBA All-Star
Avdija scores 5 points and makes 4 assists during 15 minutes on basketball court, though his team of international stars loses both contests, missing out on round-robin championship
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LOS ANGELES, California — Deni Avdija made history as the first Israeli to play in the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, although his team did not progress to the championship game.
Avdija’s Team World lost both matches in the round-robin basketball showcase, leaving the USA Stars to beat USA Stripes 47-21 in the final of the 75th NBA All-Star Game tournament held at Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Western Conference reserve played 15 minutes over two games, managing five points, all in the first game, and four assists total.
He started both games, thanks to both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being out due to injury.
Following the tournament, the Portland Trail Blazers forward thanked his Israeli fans who stayed up overnight to watch him play.
“I feel like when I come to play, I come with the entire nation, and it’s fun to show that it’s possible, even for a small country like us,” he told Channel 12 news at a post-game press conference.
DENI FROM DOWNTOWN ???? pic.twitter.com/vK2STFmfQd
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 15, 2026
In the opener, Avdija, who played as a starter, scored twice — a three-pointer within three minutes of the start of the game and another two points with a transitional dunk.
Avdija, wearing a jersey with a small Israeli flag patch on the back, also made an assist to French teammate Victor Wembanyama, who made 14 points, six rebounds, and three blocks in the intense contest.
But the World team, missing both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, fell 37-35, with Anthony Edwards scoring 13 points for USA Stars, and Scottie Barnes sinking the winning three-pointer in overtime.
Game two saw more drama when De’Aaron Fox sank a three-pointer at the buzzer to give USA Stripes a 42-40 triumph over USA Stars.
An Edwards three-pointer gave the Stars a 40-39 edge until Fox answered from the left wing.
“You live for these moments,” NBA all-time scoring leader LeBron James said. “That’s a big time play for us older heads… We know how to keep our heads and execute.”
DENI DUNK ‼️ pic.twitter.com/GNa3TKFDj2
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 15, 2026
Jaylen Brown scored 11 points, and James added eight to lead the Stripes while Edwards and Cade Cunningham led the Stars with 11 points each.
Coming back for Game 3 against the Stripes, Avdija took a rebound and then gave an assist to Jamal Murray. He also made an assist to Pascal Siakam, taking the World to a 27-20 lead, but was otherwise largely a non-factor.
Deni lobs it up to Siakam ⬆️ pic.twitter.com/BpD3xMPPsY
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 15, 2026
The World needed to beat USA Stripes in the round-robin finale to advance, but Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points, including the deciding three-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining, for a 48-45 Stripes triumph.
“I made my first one, kept on from there, and they just kept falling,” said Leonard, who hit 6-of-7 three-point shots.
In the championship game, Tyrese Maxey scored nine points while Edwards and Chet Holmgren added eight each as young Stars talent overwhelmed the veteran-laden USA Stripes.
“We chose to compete today, and we came out on top,” said Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves guard who won the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award.
The Stars began the final with a 12-1 run, powered by seven points from Maxey, as the Stripes missed their first 10 shots.
The Stars later added a 15-0 run for a 33-9 advantage, and the Stripes could not muster a rally.
Donovan Mitchell had six points, and James, an All-Star for a record 22nd time, added five for the Stripes in the final.
Ahead of the game, James praised Avdija as “exceptional” and expressed hopes to one day visit Israel.
“If I have fans there, I hope I inspire people over there not only to be great in sports, but to be better in general, in life,” James said. “Hopefully, someday I can make it over there…. I’ve heard nothing but great things.”
LeBron James on Israel:
“I hope I inspire people over there not only to be great in sports, but to be better in general in life, hopefully someday I can make it over there.” pic.twitter.com/Z5rPTzFval
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) February 15, 2026
Concerns about lackluster effort in past All-Star contests, two-team events pitting Eastern and Western conferences against each other, were eased in the new format, which produced hustle, defensive effort, plus competitive spark and a high-energy hunger to win.
“I know a lot of people have been concerned about the All-Star Game, not seeing as much effort. Today we saw it,” said former US president Barack Obama, who was seated at courtside.
“Whenever you get an international team against an American team, they want to compete — and you’ve got some young guys, I think, who want to prove something out here.”
Avdija called the latest change a fun format.
“People are about to understand that it’s fun watching the All-Star Game,” he said. “It’s going to be a little more competitive, try to bring it back.”
AP contributed to this report.
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