Deni Avdija’s a basketball player, and a great one; not an Israeli politician, not a member of Likud, and he never killed anybody in Gaza, the West Bank or anywhere else.
Don’t blame Portland Trailblazers player Deni Avdija for the sins of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (Bibi) and his MAGA-clone Likud Party. He didn’t kill anyone in Gaza – he was in pre-season training camp for the Washington Wizards in October 2023. As the most visible Israeli athlete in its history, and a rising superstar in the NBA; Avdija has been the target of some horrible memes and social media attacks, accusing him of murdering innocents in Gaza as a member of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
As with all Israeli citizens, Avdija “served” in the IDF in 2020 – it’s MANDATORY! But he didn’t kill anybody, and his IDF involvement was limited to a vastly shortened and modified basic training, with no actual military assignment. Some people feel that as an “ambassador for Israel” in the NBA, that Avdija is a “representative of their war crimes.” That’s like blaming LeBron James for convicted felon Donald t-Rump’s crimes against the American people, and his war crimes. Not Fair!
After basic training, Avdija got a deferment as an “exceptional athlete,” and continued his athletic career. It’s not his fault that there are pictures circulating of him in an IDF uniform; nor that Bibi has tried to attach himself to Avdija’s coattails of staggering popularity. He’s the most globally popular Israeli athlete in history. t-Rump also tries to suck up to popular athletes to soften and burnish his image. Some go along, as did the US Men’s Olympic Hockey Team; others loudly and visibly object, and reject championship invitations to the Trump White House.
Avdija is more visible than ever as a first-time NBA All-Star, and rising superstar for the Trailblazers, who are the #7 seed in the NBA Western Conference playoffs. With injuries to key veterans, Avdija became the dominant player on the Portland team, and has become the most consequential Israeli player in the history of the NBA.
While he hasn’t gone so far as to call out the sins of Israel, as have actors Natalie Portman and Gal Gadot, Avdija has carefully avoided offending loyal Israelis and good global citizens alike, by remaining mum about all things political saying in a NYT interview,
Just as many Americans despise t-Rump and the MAGA movement he spawned, many Israelis and Jews worldwide are horrified and embarrassed about how the Gaza genocide and Likud-MAGA movement have reflected horribly on Israel, and by extension the Jewish People. As a Jewish writer with a long history of published criticisms of Israel,I’m honored that Google AI gives me credit for coining the phrase, “Zionism is not Judaism; Hamas and Hezbollah are not Islam.”
Prominent Israelis, such as Avdija are in a tricky dilemma having to remain quiet about any objections they have; lest they elicit harassment or violence from the far-far right devotees of Likud-MAGA, or fanatical Jewish and Christian Zionists. Lamentably, people from the “looney left” refuse to recognize the distinction between Judaism, the religion; and Zionism, the corrupted political ideology, and take cheap shots at any Jewish person. Fewer American Jews than ever still give unconditional support for Israel, as Bibi’s Likud Party has become the Israeli version of MAGA, and has an evil “Siamese Criminal” relationship with t-Rump.
So, let’s be fair and give Avdija and other gifted Israelis the benefit of the doubt. He’s a basketball player, and a great one; not an Israeli politician, not a member of Likud, and he never killed anybody in Gaza, the West Bank or anywhere else. Avdija can’t be outspoken about any objections he may have to Bibi and Likud, as have Gadot and Portman, because those women enjoy unimpeachable, cultural popularity, and have nothing to lose. Portman never served in the IDF, having moved to the US as a child, and Gadot’s IDF service was limited to being a fitness instructor.
Avdija said with fatalistic, dark Jewish humor, “All this hate… for no reason. Like I’m deciding things in the world. I obviously stand for my country, because that’s where I’m from. It’s frustrating to see all the hate. Like, I have a good game or get All-Star votes, and all the comments are people connecting me to politics. Like, why can’t I just be a good basketball player? Why does it matter if I’m from Israel, or wherever in the world, or what my race is? Just respect me as a basketball player.”
