Portland Trail Blazers' Israeli native misses game for Yom Kippur: 'More important things than basketball'

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The Portland Trail Blazers' archetypal preseason crippled was connected Friday night, but they were without 1 of their recently acquired players.

The squad traded for Deni Avdija aft the champion play of his young career, but helium was listed arsenic retired for a "personal" reason.

That reason? The Israeli autochthonal was observing Yom Kippur.

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Deni Avdija, #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers, poses for a representation during Blazers Media Day astatine Veterans Memorial Coliseum connected September 30, 2024, successful Portland, Oregon. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

In an Instagram Story connected Thursday night, Avdija announced that helium would beryllium missing the game, and the determination had been a no-brainer.

"Tomorrow, connected the eve of Yom Kippur, the archetypal pre-season crippled of the play volition instrumentality place. When the absorption informed me, I knew close distant that I would not participate," the 23-year-old wrote via The Jerusalem Post. "I consciousness that the champion mode to commencement the play is by honoring Jewish contented and lasting agreed with my chap Jews successful Israel and astir the world.

"Basketball has been a cardinal portion of my beingness for arsenic agelong arsenic I tin remember, and it’s ever been my apical priority. However, aft the past year, I’ve realized determination are much important things than basketball. Am Yisrael Chai. Wishing everyone a bully inscription and sealing."

Deni Avdija of Israel during the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 radical D lucifer betwixt Israel and Finland astatine O2 Arena Prague connected September 2, 2022, successful Prague, Czech Republic. (Pedja Milosavljevic/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

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The vacation began Friday and ends Saturday. The crippled was played 4 days aft the one-year day of Palestine's onslaught connected Avdija's location country.

Avdija played professionally successful Israel from 2017 until joining the NBA successful 2020. There, helium was a three-time Israeli League champion and an MVP. He has besides been a subordinate of Israel's elder nationalist squad since 2019.

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He enactment up career-highs past play with the Washington Wizards, who selected him ninth wide successful the 2020 NBA Draft. Avdeji posted 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per crippled connected 50.4% shooting, each of which were the champion marks of his career.

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