Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (left) drives against Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, December 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (left) drives against Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, December 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Deni Avdija made Israeli basketball history on Friday, becoming the country’s all-time leading NBA scorer as he has turned into a true star player for the Portland Trailblazers in his fifth season in the league.
While Avdija has been a solid player since entering the league in 2020, he has emerged this season as the star player on his team, and has a real chance at becoming Israel’s first-ever NBA All-Star if he keeps up his current pace.
The 24-year-old forward entered Friday’s game against the Detroit Pistons needing 30 points to surpass former Sacramento Kings forward Omri Casspi’s career tally of 4,642. Despite the loss to Detroit, Avdija scored 35 points on incredible efficiency, pushing his total to 4,648 points and cementing a new national milestone.
The achievement added to a breakout season already filled with personal highs for Avdija, who reached the record far faster than Casspi, the first Israeli ever to play in the NBA.
In the first 23 games of the 2025-2026 season, Avdija has emerged as a bona fide NBA star, leading the Blazers in nearly all statistical categories while taking on the roles of primary ball-handler, scoring option, and perimeter defensive stopper.
Now averaging 26.2 points per game, his offensive output has exploded, putting him on the same statistical plane as NBA superstars James Harden, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Brunson.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, left, moves the ball while defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game, November 21, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
As of Saturday, Avdija ranks as the 14th highest scoring player in the league, ahead of several all star and All NBA players. Of the 23 games he has played so far this season, he has scored more than 30 points seven times, and has two triple-doubles on the year.
While he has been an average to above-average shooter since he entered the league, his 3-point shooting has jumped to 37 percent so far this season, up from a 34% career average, and his shooting from the field has settled at 47%, up from 46% for his career.
But what has really put Avdija over the edge this year has been his ability and willingness to drive into contact and draw fouls at a near league-leading pace, attempting 9.9 free throws per game, good for fourth in the league behind offensive savants Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and bully-ball forward Zion Williamson.
And when he gets to the charity stripe, he rarely misses, making 8.0 free throws a game on 81.5% shooting.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, center, shoots from between Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) and guard Jalen Williams (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, November 30, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Earning his nickname “Turbo,” Avdija is a fast break and half-court menace, averaging more drives toward the basket than any other player in the league with 19.5 per game. That is 1.5 more drives per game than the next player, Gilgeous-Alexander, the unstoppable Oklahoma City guard who took home last year’s regular season and NBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards.
Not just a scorer, the Israeli forward is also a well-rounded perimeter threat, averaging 6.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds, as well as taking on the opposing team’s best wing players as Portland’s top perimeter defensive option.
Born on Kibbutz Beit Zera in northern Israel in 2001, Avdija was destined for hoops greatness, being coached by his father Zufer, who himself played basketball in his native Yugoslavia and in Israel, where he currently heads basketball operations for Bnei Herzliya.
Avdija began his professional career when he was still a kid, playing his first games for Maccabi Tel Aviv at age 16 and leading the club to three titles in the three years he spent in the top Israeli league, becoming the youngest-ever league MVP in his final year at age 19.
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Deni Avdija controls the ball during the Euro League basketball match between Olimpia Milan and Maccabi Fox Tel Aviv, in Milan, Italy, November 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Drafted by the Washington Wizards with the ninth overall pick in 2020, Avdija spent much of his first years in the NBA as an occasional starter for the bottom-feeding team, often coming off the bench for several minutes per game to spark some offense and provide help on the boards.
While with the Wizards, he signed a 4-year, $55 million contract extension in 2023, a deal that would later prove to be incredible value for a player with the impact that he now has.
He was traded to Portland last summer in exchange for young guard Bub Carrington, veteran Malcolm Brogdon, and several draft picks, in another deal that would prove great value to his new team.
In his first season with the Blazers, Avdija averaged 16.9 points per game, along with 7.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists, and took on a larger role within the team’s offense as the season went along.
Now, in his fifth NBA campaign, he has emerged as Portland’s undisputed best player, leading the team in total points and assists and bringing in the second-most rebounds behind 7-footer Donavan Clingan.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) looks for an open teammate while defended by Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (4) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, November 21, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
While the season is still in its early stages, if Avdija keeps up his current pace, he is likely to be voted to the All-Star Game and could even be given a place on one of the three All-NBA teams by season’s end, which would cement him as one of the premier players in the sport.
Regardless of the outcome of this season or his career, as of Friday night, Avdija can now be considered the undisputed greatest basketball player to ever come out of Israel, and one of the best athletic exports to ever represent the Jewish state.