Deni Avdija plays with a poise and intensity that reflects more than just his basketball skills—it’s a testament to his heritage. With a game that blends versatility and vision, he’s more than a rising NBA star; he’s a product of his diverse background. Unique roots fuel his determination, making him a stand-out presence on and off the court, where his cultural pride and faith shape every play he makes.

Is Deni Avdija an Israeli? Exploring the Washington Wizards’ star’s nationality and ethnic background

The Wizards’ forward holds a unique blend of heritage and identity extending beyond his basketball talent. So here it is- the hooper was born in 2001 in Beit Zera, a small kibbutz in northern Israel, his roots are deeply intertwined with his Israeli upbringing and diverse family background. He is, at his core, Israeli by nationality—born in the Jewish state, raised in its culture, and representing it proudly in the world of professional basketball. But his story is far from simple, as his ethnic and religious heritage weaves together influences from multiple cultures, making him a compelling figure both on and off the court!

His athleticism is hardly a coincidence. Do you know basketball runs in the family? Yes, it does, with both of his parents being from sports backgrounds. His father, Zufer Avdija, and his mother, Sharon Artzi, made their mark in sports.

Zufer hails from Kosovo (then Yugoslavia), where he played professional basketball before settling in Israel in the 1990s. He had a career that spanned across top European clubs, including Crvena Zvezda in Yugoslavia, where he was the team’s captain and represented the Yugoslavian national team. However, he didn’t just stop there.

Zufer continued playing in Israel, too. In the Isreal Premier League, he played for teams like Ramat HaSharon, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Rishon LeZion. In fact, do you know Zufer even won a bronze medal at the 1982 FIBA World Championship with Yugoslavia?

Well, that’s all for his father, but his mother is no lesser star either.

Deni’s mother, Sharon, brings her own sports pedigree. As an Israeli Jew from Beit Zera, she was both a basketball player and a track-and-field athlete. So we get it, from where Deni gets his athletic genes from! Growing up in a family that values sports, it’s no wonder that he was groomed for greatness in the world of sports from a young age. Imagine getting influenced by both parents!

However, talking about his religion, his family is a mixture of cultures—his father is Muslim (Albanian descent), while his mother is Jewish. And Deni identifies as Jewish. Thus making his ethnicity a blend of Serbian and Jewish heritage.

Deni has expressed his pride in his Jewish roots and has often shared meaningful gestures that reflect his commitment to his faith. For example, he chose to sit out and not play in 2024, during a preseason game against the Trail Blazers, to observe Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days in Judaism. This act showed his devotion to his religion, demonstrating that his identity is integral to his life on and off the court. With this, we come to an end about his family and their roots.

Though we know that he holds Israeli citizenship, there’s a twist.

Does Deni Avdija have dual citizenship?

To answer that, we need to understand that beyond his personal beliefs, Deni Avdija’s identity is also shaped by his legal ties to two nations: Israel and Serbia. As we know, his father is from Serbia, which means he holds dual citizenship, both Israeli and Serbian.

Although he proudly represents Israel. When asked if he wanted to play for Serbia, he answered, “I thought about it, but you know my friends are here and I feel comfortable with the language. I am having fun. I was the main guy and leader of the youth national teams for a while now here. It really helped me on my road, so after winning the gold medal I think it was a good choice and it can’t be changed now, anyway.”

At 18, Avdija faced the same military requirement that every Israeli citizen does: service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). However, because of his burgeoning basketball career, he was granted a deferment, allowing him to focus on his basketball development.

Still, his connection to Israel remained firm. Even after being in the NBA, in 2020, when the basketball season was halted because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hoopster fulfilled a short stint of military service as part of his national duty. This was a reminder that, despite his international career, for him, his roots in Israel are deeply felt and highly significant.

His bond with his homeland was once fully displayed during the wave of terrorist attacks in Israel in early 2022. In a powerful show of solidarity, he wrote the Hebrew phrase “Am Yisrael Chai” (“The people of Israel live”) on his shoes. It was a moment that highlighted how Avdija’s personal story is tied to a larger narrative—one of faith, resilience, and national pride.