Deni Avdija spoke to Israel’s "Ulpan Shishi" after the best season of his NBA career, one that made him Portland’s star, a first-time All-Star and the first Israeli ever to reach the NBA playoffs. In the interview aired Friday, June 19, 2026, he discussed his upbringing, his father’s influence, the pressure of elite basketball, and his long-term plans.
Avdija said his growth spurt began at age 15, when he grew 10 to 12 centimeters over one summer. He described being embarrassed by his height as a teenager, missing childhood experiences, and living with constant aches. He also revisited a famous interview from age 17, saying he meant to show respect for Omri Casspi while still aiming higher. "I was not a good student," he said, adding that he was poor at math but can calculate his points and rebounds.
He said his father pushed him hard and often yelled after losses, but that the mix of "warm Israeli" and "tough Serbian" traits shaped him. Avdija called himself aggressive and unafraid of any defender, said trash talk is "like chess," and described his surprise at sharing the court with LeBron James and his happiness that the New York Knicks beat Victor Wembanyama. He also said his salary figures are "unreal" and that life has changed, but not who he is.
Avdija described the physical toll of the 2023 car accident, saying he saw "life flash before my eyes" and played the next day, later aggravating his back. He said he often struggles with pressure, sometimes sleeping only an hour a night, and that he talks to his mother rather than a psychologist. He said he likes Portland, where he lives with his mother, but misses the easier possibility of relationships because of his busy schedule and life in the U.S.
He said he feels the responsibility of being watched by children in Israel and wants to represent the country proudly, thanking the soldiers who defend it. Looking ahead, he said his dream is to keep breaking barriers, to have a family one day, and to live in Israel later in life, adding that he wants his future children to grow up there too.
