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What was a game to forget for the Washington Wizards,聽 to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, turned out to be quite a memorable one for Deni Avdija.
During the third quarter, Avdija grabbed his 1,000th career rebound, making him the second Israeli-born player in NBA history to grab 1,000 boards. In this category, Avdija sits behind only Omri Casspi, who grabbed 2,355 rebounds in his 12-year NBA career.
There have been a handful of Jewish players in the NBA over the years including Dolph Schayes, Larry Brown, Amar鈥檈 Stoudemire, Jordan Farmar and Art Heyman. However, since 1946, there have been just who were born in Israel.
As an Israeli player, Avdija is just one of five to ever be drafted into the NBA. Omri Casspi, who was the first ever Israeli player to be selected in the first round, went 23rd overall in the 2009 NBA Draft to the Sacramento Kings.
Avdija has been making history ever since he was drafted by the Wizards. He became the highest-ever drafted Israeli player when he was selected as the ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft. Avdija is currently the only active player in the NBA from Israel and the only active Jewish player on a roster.
Before the end of his career, Avdija has a chance to set several statistical records for Israeli-born players. Here is where he stands in other notable stat categories in NBA history among Israeli-born players:
Games Played:
1.聽聽 聽Omri Casspi (588), 2009-2021
2.聽聽 聽Michael Holten (325), 1983-1992
3.聽聽 聽Deni Avdija (187), 2020-present
Points:
1.聽聽 聽Omri Casspi (4,642)
2.聽聽 聽Michael Holten (2,016)
3.聽聽 聽Deni Avdija (1,480)
Rebounds:
1.聽聽 聽Omri Casspi (2,355)
2.聽聽 聽Deni Avdija (1,001)
3.聽聽 聽Michael Holten (459)
Assists:
1.聽聽 聽Michael Holten (977)
2.聽聽 聽Omri Casspi (662)
3.聽聽 聽Deni Avdija (358)
Steals:
1.聽聽 聽Omri Casspi (362)
2.聽聽 聽Michael Holten (208)
3.聽聽 聽Deni Avdija (137)
Blocks:
1.聽聽 聽Omri Casspi (134)
2.聽聽 聽Deni Avdija (85)
3.聽聽 聽Michael Holten (30)
4.聽聽 聽Joe Alexander (30)
Field goals:
1.聽聽 聽Omri Casspi (1,718-3,782)
2.聽聽 聽Michael Holten (796-1,805)
3.聽聽 聽Deni Avdija (540-1,267)
Field goal percentage:
1.聽聽 聽T.J. Leaf (49.2)
2.聽聽 聽Omri Casspi (45.4)
3.聽聽 聽Michael Holten (44.1)
4.聽聽 聽Deni Avdija (42.6)
3-pointers:
1.聽聽 聽Omri Casspi (493-1,339)
2.聽聽 聽Deni Avdija (180-582)
3.聽聽 聽Michael Holten (28-109)
3-point percentage:
1.聽聽 聽Omri Casspi (36.8)
2.聽聽 聽T.J. Leaf (34.1)
3.聽聽 聽Deni Avdija (30.9)
Free throws:
1.聽聽 聽Omri Casspi (713-1,052)
2.聽聽 聽Michael Holten (396-491)
3.聽聽 聽Deni Avdija (220-298)
Free throw percentage:
1.聽聽 聽Michael Holten (80.7)
2.聽聽 聽Omri Casspi (67.8)
3.聽聽 聽Deni Avdija (73.8)
