Deni Avdija

Deni Avdija
Avdija with the Israeli national team, 2018
No. 8 – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Position Shooting guard / Small forward
League Israeli Premier League
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (2001-01-03) January 3, 2001
Beit Zera, Israel
Nationality Israeli / Serbian
Listed height 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Career information
Playing career 2017–present
Career history
2017–present Maccabi Tel Aviv
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  Israel
FIBA Europe Under-20
2018 Germany National Team

Deni Avdija (Hebrew: דני אבדיה‎, Serbian Cyrillic: Дени Авдија; born January 3, 2001) is an Israeli professional basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League and the EuroLeague. He is the son of former basketball player Zufer Avdija.

Early life

Avdija was born in Beit Zera, Israel. He started playing basketball when he was 8 years old. Avdija played for Bnei Herzliya youth team and later joined Maccabi Tel Aviv youth team in 2013.[1]

Avdija led Maccabi to win back to back youth state championship titles in 2017 and 2018.[2]

In August 2018, Avdija participated at the Basketball Without Borders Europe camp in Belgrade, Serbia and was named the camp MVP.[3][4]

Professional career

On November 5, 2017, Avdija signed a six-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv.[5] On November 19, 2017, Avdija made his professional debut in a match against Ironi Nes Ziona,[6] Avdija played three minutes and became the youngest player ever to play for Maccabi at age 16 years, 320 days.

Israel national team

Avdija was a member of the U-16, U-18 and U-20 Israel national teams.

In August 2017, Avdija participated in the 2017 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, he led the tournament in rebounds (12.6) and assists (5.3) and also averaged 15.3 points per game.[7]

In July 2018, Avdija helped the Israeli team to win the 2018 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship and earning a gold medal. He finished the tournament averaging 12.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Avdija earned a spot in the All-Tournament Team, alongside his teammate Yovel Zoosman.[8][9]

Personal life

Avdija's father, Zufer, is a Serbian-Israeli, ethnic Gorani former professional basketball player who played in Israel in the '90s.[1] Zufer was the team captain of the Serbian powerhouse Crvena zvezda in 1980s and a member of the Yugoslavia national team that won the bronze medal at the 1982 FIBA World Championship.

References

  1. 1 2 "מניה בצמיחה / דני אבדיה הוא הדבר הבא". ynet.co.il (in Hebrew). July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  2. ↑ "בפעם השנייה ברציפות: מכבי תל אביב אלופת ליגת העל לנוער". walla.co.il. May 25, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Jokic, Vucevic Headline Basketball Without Borders Europe 2018". global.nba.com. August 14, 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  4. ↑ "Deni Avdija named Basketball Without Borders MVP". eurohoops.com. August 18, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Maccabi Tel Aviv signs prospect Deni Avdija to a six-year contract". Sportando.com. November 5, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Winner League, Game 7: Nes Ziona Vs M. Tel-Aviv". basket.co.il. November 19, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Avdija in the 2017 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship". fiba.basketball. August 19, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Avdija in the 2018 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship". fiba.basketball. July 22, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Israel swingman Zoosman snatches up MVP honors". fiba.basketball. July 22, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
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