Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija was selected Sunday night as a Western Conference reserve for the NBA All-Star Game, becoming the first Israeli player to earn an All-Star nod.
Avdija’s selection marks a milestone for Israeli basketball, as no player from the country had previously been named an NBA All-Star. The reserve designation places him among the league’s top performers in the Western Conference for this season.
The Blazers will now have an All-Star representative in Avdija, who joins the group of reserves announced for the conference. The All-Star Game brings together the NBA’s top players for the league’s annual midseason showcase.