Jewish NBA Player To Sit Out Of Preseason Game For Yom Kippur
Yesterday at 05:49 PM
The NBA season is about to begin in a few weeks, and teams around the league are participating in the preseason. As the league's 30 teams prepare for the regular season, one player will be sitting out of his team's preseason game on Friday.
Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers revealed that he would not be playing in the team's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Avdija said that he wouldn't be playing in the game due to it falling on Yom Kippur.
Avdija, who was born and raised in Israel, discussed his decision to sit out on social media.
"On the eve of Yom Kippur, the first [preseason] match of the upcoming games season will take place," said the player, writing a statement in Hebrew.
"When the management informed me about it, it was clear to me from the first moment that I would not tell them I would be taking part in the game. I feel that, this time, the best and most correct opening of this season will be by respecting my Jewish tradition, and in unity with my brothers and sisters in Israel and in the world."
Avdija is in his first season with the Trail Blazers after being traded this summer. He spent the first four years of his career with the Washington Wizards, who selected him with the ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft.
He had the best season of his career last year, putting up new personal bests in points, rebounds and assists per game. He also improved as a shooter, becoming more efficient from three and from the field overall.
The Blazers have three more preseason games against the Clippers, Kings and Jazz. They will officially open the season on October 23 against the Golden State Warriors, and they'll face the New Orleans Pelicans in each of their next games.
The Trail Blazers will move into their second season without Damian Lillard, as they've now begun to build around top picks Scoot Henderson and two-time national champion Donovan Clingan.
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