Deni Avdija
Deni Avdija, born on January 3, 2001, in Beit Zera, Israel, is a Serbian-Israeli professional basketball player. Son of former basketball player Zufer Avdija, Deni began his basketball journey in fourth grade, after having played American football. Youth and Maccabi Tel Aviv Career (2017–2020) Avdija began his professional career at Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he played from 2017 to 2020. He quickly stood out, becoming the youngest player to play for the club’s main team, at 16 years and 320 days old. His EuroLeague debut occurred on November 22, 2018. During his time at Maccabi, Avdija won three Israeli League championships (2018–2020) and was named the Israeli League MVP in 2020. He also achieved international success, winning two gold medals for Israel at the youth level and being named the MVP of the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2019. NBA Career: Washington Wizards (2020–2024) Deni Avdija was selected as the ninth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards. He played for the Wizards from 2020 to 2024, where he continued to develop his game. March 2025 marked the most productive month of his career to date, with averages of 23.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 13 games, with excellent shooting percentages. Portland Trail Blazers (2024–Present) Since 2024, Deni Avdija has played for the Portland Trail Blazers, wearing jersey number 8 and playing as a power forward. He remains an active member of the Israeli national basketball team.
