In a significant moment for all sports fans in Israel, the Washington Wizards selected 19-year-old Israeli
Deni Avdija ninth overall in the 2020 National Basketball Association draft late Wednesday night.
Avdija’s close family and friends – who were at home in Israel due to the virtual nature of the event – jumped up with rousing applause in the early hours of the morning Israel time when the pick was announced.
The
Israeli sensation has been featured for Maccabi Tel Aviv for the past number of years and will now be taking his talents to America’s capital city.
In addition to Avdija, Yam Madar was also taken in the draft by the Boston Celtics in the second round with the 47th pick, making it only the second time that two Israelis have selected in the same NBA draft. The last time the feat was accomplished was back in 2006, when Lior Eliyahu and Yotam Halperin were chosen by the Orlando Magic and the Seattle SuperSonics, being the 44th and 53rd picks, respectively.
The Wizards were pleasantly surprised to be able to nab the 6-foot-9 Avdija in the ninth pick and had him high on their draft board. They thought he’d be selected earlier in the first round.
“He was definitely the highest player left on our board,” said Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard, who has been following Avdija’s progression for a number of years. “Our international scouts have been on this kid since he was 16. I would call him a blend player. Whoever’s out on the floor, he’s able to make plays.”
WITH THE selection, Avdija becomes Israel’s first-ever lottery pick (one of the first 14 selections), and second first-rounder, joining Omri Caspi, who was selected twenty-third overall in the 2009 NBA draft.
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Avdija will join Wizards star Bradley Beal and John Wall (who is expected to return after an extended injury period) along with rising star Rui Hachimura. He will certainly be receiving plenty of playing time under head coach Scott Brooks.
“I love his toughness. I love his IQ… He steps on his court and competes,” said Brooks.
Avdija joins a Wizards team, which featured in the NBA bubble this past season, finishing ninth overall, with a record of 25-47.
“You’re waiting for every pick and butterflies are going around in your stomach,” Avdija explained at a press conference for the Israeli media following his selection. “I had no expectations and I was ready for any situation. Being the ninth pick and in the top 10 is amazing for our country and I’m super excited to get going.”
The teenager is looking forward to getting to Washington.
“I had a short conversation with the Wizards and everyone so far has shown me that it’s a great club. The entire staff cheered for me when I was selected and they all wanted me to feel at home. It’s a great city, the capital of the United States and there’s the White House.”
AS FOR what he will be able to offer the team during the upcoming season, Avdija promises that he will do whatever is asked of him and whatever it takes to win games.
“I’m not thinking about how many minutes I’ll get and how much I’ll be on the court. But rather I’m looking at what I can do to help the team win games. I will do everything I can to win games. This is going to be a great journey.”
“My parents and my country have shown so much pride, they are all part of me and will be with me for my entire career going forward. My message to the children of Israel is that I’ve shown them that if you work hard and you do the maximum, then you will get far in life.”
Avdija will be heading over to DC in the coming days, and he is well aware that he will now be an unofficial ambassador for the entire state.
“Am Yisrael [the nation of Israel] is the best, and I’m looking forward to representing our country. I’ll work hard to make everyone proud.”
Once he arrives in Washington, Avdija will have to quarantine and then head straight to training camp to get ready for the 2020/21 season, which opens on December 22.
“I will give everything that I have to the club,” he said. “I know what I can do and I’m happy Washington trusts me and believes in me. I’ll do everything that I can.”
Avdija now has the opportunity to make an impact on the local Jewish communities around the Washington area and throughout North America, where he will be looked up to as a hero.
“We’re one big family and I’ll be sure that I can represent the best that I can; I make the Jewish communities proud and everyone around me proud as well.”
THERE HAD been some doubt that Madar would be chosen by one of the 30 teams after he remained in the draft and didn’t pull his name out a week ago, but his decision proved to be the correct one after being selected by arguably the greatest NBA franchise.
The 6-foot-4 guard, who plays his club basketball with Hapoel Tel Aviv, has shown much promise since bursting onto the international scene back in the summer of 2019, when he featured on the Israel Under-20 squad that won the European Championship in Tel Aviv.
With his deftness, quickness and all-around game, Madar continued to move up the draft pecking order over the past year and was confident that he would be selected.
Madar, also 19, will stay in Israel for the time being, according to Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, and won’t join the team for this coming season.
“He’s a player we watched over in Israel quite a bit. We’ll see if it works out and it will be at least another year,” said Ainge.
As for Madar, he understands the tradition of the Celtics and is well aware of all of the greats that have come before him, from Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce and others.
“It’s a great honor to be part of this organization,” said the Israeli. “I don’t know where everything will go but it’s very exciting being with my family at this time. It has been a dream since I was a kid. It’s a dream come true and I’m very happy.”
The challenge to play for the Celtics is something that the Beit Dagan native is relishing, as well as also representing the Jewish community of the Greater Boston area and around North America.
“It will bring me more motivation and I’ll work harder. I am representing them and I want to do that the best way I can and at the highest level.
“I will do everything to work the best that I can and I’ll do what I need to do. I will know what my role is and grow from there.”
