{"id":63574,"date":"2022-08-09T09:11:58","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T09:11:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/?p=63574"},"modified":"2022-08-17T07:15:42","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T07:15:42","slug":"back-home-in-israel-avdija-stars-in-blue-white-return-pearls-love-for-judaism-and-the-holy-land-makes-for-unforgettable-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/en\/back-home-in-israel-avdija-stars-in-blue-white-return-pearls-love-for-judaism-and-the-holy-land-makes-for-unforgettable-contest\/","title":{"rendered":"Back home in Israel – Avdija stars in return & Pearl’s love for Judaism makes for unforgettable contest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Basketball fans in Israel have been a bit spoiled over the past week. The Auburn Men\u2019s Basketball Team wrapped up their pre-season tour of the Holy Land, while the Israel National Team along with Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija just began their preparations in earnest for the upcoming Eurobasket tournament and World Cup Qualifiers.<\/p>\n

The two came to ahead as they tipped off against one another in Tel Aviv and treated the fans in attendance and back on ESPN in America to an entertaining game with plenty of oohs and ahhs as Avdija with 25 points ruled the roost in the blue-and-white\u2019s 95-86 win<\/a>.<\/strong>
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Deni Avdija – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nIsrael, which was playing with a veteran laden team together with an NBA Lottery draft pick were tested by Bruce Pearl\u2019s squad which didn\u2019t back off one iota and were also arguably the most athletic opponent that Guy Goodes\u2019s crew will face over the next month of games. <\/p>\n

However, most importantly as Avidja said was the fact that everyone had a good time, \u201cFirst thing which is most important is that we had fun. I believe everyone had fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the 21-year old, it was an opportunity to return home for the first time as a conquering hero as the third ever Sabra in the NBA and show his \u201chometown\u201d fans what type of player he has become since leaving on the top of the Israeli basketball world with a league Championship in 2020 with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
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Deni Avdija and Yam Madar – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nIt was also a chance for Avdija to reconnect with some of his old National Team teammates as well as others whom he had played with at Maccabi. Be it with current Partizan Belgrade guard Yam Madar who scored 24 points in Israel\u2019s victory and who was selected in the second round of the same 2020 NBA Draft as Avdija, or Jake Cohen who he shared the Yad Eliyahu court with since he was a youngster. <\/p>\n

The way that Avdija was able to step on the court once again with Madar and turn back the clock to the Under-20 European Championship in 2019 was a sight to behold.<\/p>\n

\u201cYam and I have something special together. We support each other in difficult situations ever since the European championship and also from our time in the National team youth system. Yam is always my roommate and I always talk to him. There are a lot of good people with this national team that are people before players and that\u2019s not just me and Yam, this fact is about everyone here. We love playing with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another player who arguably had his best game in blue-and-white in some time was Jake Cohen who had a season with Maccabi last year that he would probably like to put in the rear view window. Without Cohen\u2019s fourth quarter performance in which he scored 11 of his 17 points, Goodes\u2019s squad may not have walked away with the win.
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Jake Cohen – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been playing with Jake since I was 16 years old,” Avdija said. “When I was a kid and I looked at him and said \u2018WOW\u2019. He is the head of the team. He is smart and knows what to do. He always says the correct things and he is a great friend. He brings us together along with Guy (Pnini), and they are the veterans who help us all out. There is nothing like him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Goodes also reflected on Cohen\u2019s quality showing which is something that he will be looking to see more often in the upcoming month, \u201cJake is not a youngster. He\u2019s played lots of basketball and he understands the game. He has things that just Jake has and we need to get the most out of him. Whether it be on offense or with decision making and other elements that we need to improve upon.\u201d<\/p>\n

There will be some critics that will look at this game and say that Israel with pros should have pounded Auburn as they are just a college team. Others will want to write off Avdija\u2019s phenomenal showing that included not only 25 points but also 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 11 drawn fouls, as this was expected from an NBA player.
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Deni Avdija – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nHowever, this was first time out as a team for Israel which has not had the NBA forward for quite some time and it was also an opportunity for Avdija to lead and not be the role player which he has been up until now for the Wizards. His play and team\u2019s should not be taken for granted as Goodes works him into the team picture as best as he can to aim towards the ultimate goal.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe saw some NBA showtime moments with flashy passes and dunks as well a very quick tempo. Deni is a player with quickness and pace of that of an NBA player which is something that we are not used to seeing. The most important for us is to get Deni into our rhythm.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThe national team is not just Deni Avdija as we have lots of excellent players on the team. Avdija played great with Madar because they have been friends for a while and have played together as they make the most of their great relationship.\u201d
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Deni Avdija – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nAuburn coach Bruce Pearl also spoke about the game having been one that Israel benefitted from as much as his college players did as well, \u201cThey were extremely well coached and what they run is hard to guard. We are built to guard it but they have great counters to everything. They have an outstanding coach and an outstanding system of play with really good players and they disrupted us. I am glad we gave them a run and I\u2019m glad that this was a good contest for them and that they got exposed in some ways and I know that we did as well.\u201d <\/p>\n

Avdija was able to also pass on some of his thoughts about the NBA to the Auburn players who rarely if ever get a chance to play as a team against a player in \u201cthe League\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe players spoke to me about how I\u2019m a pro and they were excited to play somebody who is in the league and how they all want to be there too. They asked me a bunch of questions, they are really great guys, so I hope it works out for them. My main message to them was be humble which is the most important thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Auburn point guard Wendell Green Jr. was one of those players who had the chance to play against Avdija and expressed what that meant to him, \u201cIt was amazing to be matched up with him and he guarded me most of the game. I think I got his respect. But it was just fun to match up against a pro, someone who is in the league which is a dream as I want to make the NBA one day.\u201d
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Wendell Green Jr. and Deni Avdija – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nAvdija, who didn\u2019t take the college route and became a professional right from Maccabi Tel Aviv felt that for himself this was the better route despite having the opportunity to play in the NCAA, \u201cI don\u2019t regret not going to college. I believe in my path and decisions as everything has a reason. I chose my way for a reason and it brought results – I was selected in a good spot in the draft and I\u2019m in the greatest league in the world. I think this path was better for me instead of going to play in college.\u201d <\/p>\n

While Avdija is one of Israel\u2019s greatest ambassadors to America just by being an Israeli who plays in the NBA, Auburn\u2019s coach Bruce Pearl, whose Hebrew name is Mordechai wears his pride Jewish pride for Israel all over his being as he commented about his \u201cBirthright For College Basketball\u201d endeavor.
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Bruce Pearl – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\n\u201cYou can do it in Jerusalem, you can do it in Tel Aviv and you can do it in the middle of a war. We\u2019re still here, we\u2019re not going anywhere. We\u2019re still going to live, we\u2019re still going to play basketball and I\u2019m still going to yell at the referees.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cFor Jews back in America, we read about, we see it on social media and we pray. Just like God is protecting his children, his people, everybody, so is the Iron Dome, protecting us and you here. With what have taken place with the Abraham Accords it should give everyone hope. If you turn the clock back you might not have thought it possible, but look at what has happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearl also took time right after the game to talk to a group of youth in the stands, \u201cGod has blessed us, he has chosen us and with that comes a responsibility. Just like I tell my players, you got to represent the name on the front of the jersey which is Auburn. You got to represent the name on the back which is your family. But you also got to represent God\u2019s Children, the Jewish people. With how you act, with how you study, with how you love each and what kind of neighbor you\u2019re going to be Let the light continue to shine upon you and all of the people. I can\u2019t tell you how much it means to me and how proud we are of you, Am Yisrael Chai!\u201d <\/p>\n

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Gotta love how @coachbrucepearl<\/a> is so passionate about his Judaism and love of Israel! \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\udfc0\ud83c\udfc0\ud83c\udfc0\ud83d\udcaa\ud83d\udcaa\ud83d\udcaa pic.twitter.com\/xwmyz6EUcA<\/a><\/p>\n

— Sports Rabbi (@thesportsrabbi) August 9, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n