Sports02 February, 20262 min read
Deni Avdija Becomes First Israeli Named to NBA All-Star Game
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Avdija became the first Israeli ever selected to an NBA All-Star Game Named a Western Conference reserve by league coaches despite finishing seventh in West voting totals
5 outlets told this the same way.
Avdija All-Star selection
Deni Avdija was named to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, a milestone widely reported in Israeli outlets and framed as a historic first for the country. Israel Hayom describes him as 'the first Israeli player ever to make the league’s marquee event,' noting the selection followed a month-long fan vote in which he 'finished ahead of stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the fan ballot.' Haaretz also reports the All-Star nod and highlights the national reaction, quoting Amos Frishman calling it 'a night of enormous pride.'
“Deni Avdija was named an NBA All-Star — the first Israeli player ever to make the league’s marquee event — after a month-long fan vote in which he finished ahead of stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the fan ballot.”
Avdija 2025-26 season
Avdija's 2025-26 season form is a major reason for the selection. Haaretz reports he is 'enjoying a career year,' names him Western Conference Player of the Week, and lists averages of 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists.
Haaretz also notes he helped Portland sit ninth in the Western Conference at 26-23. Israel Hayom echoes the statistical line and situates his All-Star nod amid fan and coaches' voting outcomes, noting he finished seventh in the Western Conference starting vote (fifth in the fan vote) and was chosen as a reserve by Western Conference coaches.
2026 NBA All-Star format
Details of the All-Star format and roster context differ slightly between the outlets but align on the broad outline.
“He will join the World team under the NBA’s new three-team All-Star format; teammates named include Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Pascal Siakam and Jamal Murray.”
Both Haaretz and Israel Hayom report the NBA's revised format for 2026.
Israel Hayom lists many of Avdija's All-Star teammates and says he will join the World team under the NBA's new three-team All-Star format.
Teammates named include Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Pascal Siakam and Jamal Murray.
Haaretz gives the date and a concise description of the format.
The 2026 All-Star Game will be held Feb. 15 in California with a revised format: one international team and two American teams, each game 12 minutes long and the top two teams advancing to a final.
Israeli reaction and gratitude
Haaretz highlights reaction within Israel and Avdija’s personal response. Haaretz quotes Amos Frishman calling the selection 'a night of enormous pride'. Haaretz also notes that Avdija posted an Instagram story of a childhood photo with his parents thanking them.
Israel Hayom emphasizes the public and fan-driven elements that made the selection notable domestically. It mentions the fans' role and the players Avdija outpolled in fan balloting. Together, the pieces portray national celebration and personal gratitude alongside the sporting achievement.
Media coverage comparison
Taken together, Haaretz and Israel Hayom present a consistent factual picture: Avdija’s All-Star selection, his career-best numbers, and the league’s new format. They differ in emphasis, with Haaretz foregrounding institutional pride and career milestones — including that he became Israel’s all-time leading NBA scorer, surpassing Omri Casspi — and Israel Hayom emphasizing the fan-vote storyline and the roster context among global stars.
“In December he became Israel’s all-time leading NBA scorer, surpassing Omri Casspi.”
The NBA source provided here is incomplete, and where it lacks detail that absence leaves certain league-side phrasing or framing unconfirmed in these snippets. Where reporting overlaps, the accounts align on the core facts but diverge in tone and in which details they prioritize.
