Deni Avdija Makes His All-Star Debut-and Sets the Record Straight on His Name
Deni Avdija isn’t just here to play-he’s here to be heard. And during his first NBA All-Star appearance, the 25-year-old Portland Trail Blazers forward took a moment to make one thing clear: it’s Deni, not Dani.
The moment came during the post-game press conference, when a pair of Israeli reporters-speaking in their native language-mispronounced his name not once, but twice. Each time, Avdija calmly corrected them. No frustration, no theatrics-just a quiet insistence on being addressed correctly.
It may have seemed like a small exchange, but for Avdija, it was about more than phonetics. This was a player who’s worked tirelessly to carve out his place in the league, and now, on one of the biggest stages the NBA offers, he was making sure that place had his name on it-spelled and said the right way.
To be fair, the confusion is understandable. In modern Hebrew, “Deni” and “Dani” are nearly indistinguishable in writing, separated only by a rarely used punctuation mark. But Avdija’s correction was a reminder: names matter, especially when you’ve fought to make yours known.
A Well-Earned All-Star Nod
Avdija’s All-Star selection raised some eyebrows when he finished ahead of marquee names like LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the voting. But the Trail Blazers forward has always been the kind of player who earns respect the hard way-through grit, hustle, and a relentless work ethic that doesn’t always show up in highlight reels.
Suiting up for Team World, Avdija logged eight minutes in the first game and chipped in five points. He went scoreless in the second outing as Team World fell short, but the numbers tell only part of the story. For Avdija, just being on that court was a statement.
“I think there was this great, great players that didn’t get chosen for the All-Star game and obviously, there’s a lot of talent in this league that could have been instead of me,” he told Casey Holdahl after the game. “But I work hard, I play hard. I don’t want to say I deserve it, but I do respect me and my game, and I’m really happy that I’m able to be an All-Star.”
That’s classic Avdija-humble, but confident. A player who knows exactly what he brings to the table, even if the spotlight doesn’t always find him.
Battle-Tested and Still Climbing
This moment didn’t come out of nowhere. Back in January, Avdija pushed through a back injury to stay on the floor for his team.
That kind of toughness has defined his NBA journey. He’s not the flashiest name in the league, but he’s carved out a reputation as a dependable two-way player who doesn’t back down from a challenge-whether it’s guarding elite wings or correcting a mispronunciation at a press conference.
And now, with his first All-Star appearance under his belt, Avdija is stepping into a new chapter. He’s no longer the promising young prospect from Israel trying to find his footing.
He’s an All-Star. And he’s not just representing himself-he’s representing a growing wave of international talent that’s reshaping the league.
The road ahead won’t be easy. The Western Conference is stacked, and the Blazers are still in the thick of a rebuild. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Deni Avdija, it’s that he doesn’t shy away from the uphill climb.
He shows up, he puts in the work, and he makes sure you say his name right.