Avdija, the son of an Israeli Jewish mother who was an athlete and a Kosovo-born Israeli Muslim who was a professional basketball player, is a small forward for the NBA’s Washington Wizards, who drafted him in the first round, ninth overall, in 2020. He was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers on June 26, 2024, amid the annual NBA Draft. He started his pro career at Maccabi Tel Aviv at age 16 and at 18 was the youngest MVP ever in the Israeli Premier League. He also plays for Israel’s national team.
Photo: Sven Mandel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons