Israeli Basketball Federation Chair Hopes Deni Avdija Joins National Team in August

Amos Frishman, chairman of the Israeli Basketball Federation, addressed recent controversies regarding the naturalization process for foreign players and the absence of key athletes from the national team during a July 27 interview on Sport 5. He explained that a committee was established to set criteria for selecting naturalized players, emphasizing that no specific names were discussed initially. After recommendations were submitted, politicians Eldad Aknis and Shimon Mizrahi requested to present their views to the committee, proposing that a naturalized player be eligible only for the national team and not for the domestic league. Frishman rejected this idea as illogical.

Frishman also responded to claims by sports commentator Ofer Yanai, who alleged that Frishman sought to naturalize player Dan Oturu. Frishman denied these accusations, stating he had not contacted Yanai recently and only met with Hapoel Tel Aviv representatives who suggested Oturu's naturalization. He called the allegations baseless and urged Yanai to file a police complaint if he believed corruption was involved.

Regarding absent players from the national team, Frishman announced that athletes granted elite military status will be required to sign long-term contracts with the federation, including significant fines for non-attendance. He shared a personal anecdote about returning from a game shortly after his daughter’s birth to illustrate commitment. On the possibility of NBA player Deni Avdija joining the team in August, Frishman expressed hope and said Avdija is actively working on it, but no confirmation is yet available.

The interview clarified the federation’s stance on player naturalization, addressed internal disputes, and highlighted efforts to ensure player commitment to the national team ahead of upcoming competitions.