Deni Avdija’s popularity seemed to have reached a new level, as Israeli fans reportedly created a mobile application to keep him in the All-Star race. The NBA All-Star is more than just an achievement for a player; it’s filled with fans’ emotions who see their superstars together on the same court. Fans all over the world were overwhelmed by the home crowd’s gesture and expressed their feelings on social media.
Avdija has delivered stunning numbers this season, averaging 26.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. As a result, the Portland Trail Blazers have won eight out of their last 10 games and are mounting a comeback, currently in ninth place in the Western Conference.
There have not been a lot of big players from Israel in the NBA, and Avdija is one of the finest to come out of the country. Israeli fans responded to an electrifying blowout season from the Blazers’ forward to an extent that they even created an app to vote and make Avdija one of the All-Stars this season.
Fans quickly got to the comment section with their thoughts on it. One fan even took a shot at LeBron James and wrote:
“Whats wrong with having a dedicated fanbase. Bron FC can only wish”
One fan even called him “overrated” and drew a parallel with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander:
“He is so overrated he has a better whistle than SGA. That IDF whistle”
Another fan said:
“If he gets in it woudn’t be a robbery”
One fan reminisced about an incident earlier in the NBA for the former Houston Rockets legend, Yao Ming, where Chinese fans did something similar and wrote:
“China used to do this with Yao and all his teammates. They root for players from their country. I remember TMAC Was hurt and getting voted into All star games”
Another fan showed confidence in Deni Avdija’s standout season and stated that even without that, he would make it to the All-Star game:
“I don’t know why they did that lol he was gonna make it anyways”
The league has already announced the starters of Team World and Team USA for the All-Star game. The remaining squad is selected by the league’s coaches, which is where Avdija’s selection might come.
The NBA announces All-Star game starters
The 2026 NBA All-Star will feature three teams: two USA Teams and one World team. The starters from both are selected through fan votes (50%), NBA players (25%), and a selected media panel (25%).
The starters from each conference have been announced by the NBA. From the Eastern Conference, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Bruson, and Jaylen Brown were named, while from the West, Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have been chosen.
The NBA All-Star game will be played on February 15, 2026, at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, the home arena of the LA Clippers. Fans might be eager to witness the league’s superstars produce some magic together on the court.
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