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Avdija becomes Israel’s all-time NBA scoring leader

The Portland Trail Blazers’ Deni Avdija scored 35 points in a loss to the Detroit Pistons, finishing five points clear of Omri Casspi’s mark.

Deni Avdija, Israeli professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, lands at Ben-Gurion International Airport on April 16, 2025. Credit: Flash90.
Deni Avdija, Israeli professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, lands at Ben-Gurion International Airport on April 16, 2025. Credit: Flash90.

Deni Avdija became Israel’s all-time NBA scoring leader on Friday, surpassing former Sacramento Kings forward Omri Casspi’s career total of 4,642 points.

Avdija scored 35 points in a loss to the Detroit Pistons, adding nine rebounds and seven assists, and finished five points clear of Casspi’s mark.

The milestone comes after Avdija on Tuesday set a career high by dishing out 14 assists in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 121-118 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Avdija is averaging 25.8 points per game this season for the 9-14 Trail Blazers, ranking 14th in the NBA.

The 24-year-old was drafted by the Washington Wizards in 2020 and joined the Trail Blazers in 2024. Before moving to the NBA, the small forward, nicknamed “Turbo,” played for Maccabi Tel Aviv for four years.

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