Here is the list of current NBA players from Israel: Washington Wizards small forward Deni Avdija. That’s it. That’s the list.

There have only been six players from Israel to play in the NBA since the 1946-47 season. Furthermore, Avdija is one of only a few Jewish players in the NBA today.

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Born on Jan. 3, 2001, in Beit Zera, Israel, Avdija fell in love with basketball from a young age. He started playing when he was eight years old, and by the time he was 16, he was playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv — one of the best basketball teams in Europe. Then, just a year later, Avdija made his professional debut in the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroLeague with Maccabi Tel Aviv’s senior team.

Avdija won three consecutive Israeli League titles while playing with Maccabi Tel Aviv, and earned a great deal of experience in the EuroLeague against elite, older competition. He became the youngest player to win the Israeli League MVP title with his efforts in the 2019–20 season. Additionally, he competed in the FIBA U20 European Championship, where he helped the Israeli junior national team win gold in 2018 and 2019.

In 2020, Avdija declared for the NBA Draft with his 6-foot-9 frame, playmaking ability and high basketball IQ. The Washington Wizards picked him ninth overall, making him the highest-drafted Israeli player in NBA history.

In his rookie season for the Wizards, Avdija tallied 6.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Since then, he has improved in each of those categories each year. This past season, he averaged 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, including a career-high 43-point and 15-rebound performance against the New Orleans Pelicans Feb. 14. 

His consistent improvement and commitment to his game make Avdija a potential All-Star in the near future.

However, it is not just what Avdija does on the court that makes him so special. Throughout his career as an Israeli professional basketball player, he has shown pride in and support for both his nation and Jewish people.

Getting drafted into the NBA wasn’t his first draft that year. He was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in April 2019.

“For me, serving my country in the IDF is super important,” Avdija said in a 2020 interview with The Washington Post.

The 23-year-old has also spoken at the Wizards’ Jewish Heritage Night, celebrated Hanukkah with his teammates and worked to increase the NBA’s profile in Israel.

Additionally, and more importantly, Avdija has utilized his platform in the NBA to show support for Israel in times of strife. He has demonstrated support for his nation and care for the security of his people following the horrendous acts of Oct. 7. After Hamas terrorists invaded Israel — senselessly murdering over 1,200 people and taking roughly 240 hostages, 120 of whom are still suffering in captivity in Gaza over 250 days later  — Avdija spoke about its impact on his country and his mental state.

“It’s probably the worst thing that’s happened to the state of Israel, ever. We’ve never had such a thing, especially with civilians like that,” Avdija said in a 2024 interview with The Washington Post. “It was tough to play. But it gave me some drive to be better here, too. It was my time to kind of represent, show awareness.”

The fact that he is still able to play at a high level amid all the tragedy is a true testament to Avdija’s skill and perseverance.

Avdija has also raised awareness for Israel on the court by writing “Am Yisrael Chai” — “The Jewish people live” — on his sneakers during games, as well as the names of fallen Israeli soldiers from the Oct. 7 attacks.

Social media has been another avenue of advocacy for Avdija during this difficult time. 

“Knowing some victims personally adds another layer to my heartache. I’m doing my best to convey the gravity of this situation to my Wizards teammates, my NBA peers, and the Washington community at large. Israel’s defense is paramount,” Avdija shared in an Instagram post on Oct. 9. “My condolences [are] with the families [whose] dear ones got murdered or kidnapped.”

Avdija participates in several programs designed to motivate young athletes in Israel. He participates in community events and basketball camps — such as hosting 40 kids from Israel at Capital One Arena before a game with the Milwaukee Bucks — to inspire and guide the upcoming generation of players.

Avdija’s support for Israel is evident through his words, actions and dedication to representing his country. Being a minority in the NBA and the United States as a whole, he doesn’t let antisemitism steer him away from denouncing terrorism and supporting his culture and country. He has the weight and pressure of his entire country on his back, and he is carrying them up the mountain with ease.

As a Jewish kid who grew up playing sports and has a strong connection to Israel, Deni Avdija is a huge inspiration to me and should be to others. It is vital that we recognize athletes like Avdija who are trailblazers for their cultures in sports, both on and off the court. 

Joshua Sacher is a sophomore writing about athletes who led the change for social justice in his column, “More Than An Athlete.” He is also a sports editor at the Daily Trojan.