LeBron James targeted by anti-Israel activists over positive comments about Deni Avdija, Israel

Anti-Israel activists have targeted LeBron James after the Los Angeles Lakers forward praised Israeli basketball star Deni Avdija and Israel on Sunday ahead of the NBA All-Star Game in Inglewood, California.

"I said I believe he was an All-Star,” James told media representatives about Avdija. "He’s playing exceptional basketball. So that’s that."

James then commented on Avdija’s country of origin – Israel.

“If I have fans over there – I’ve never been there – I hope you’ve been following my career. I hope I inspire people over there to not only want to be great at sports but be better in general in life. Hopefully someday I could make it over there. Like I said, I’ve never been over there, but I heard nothing but great things,” he told journalists.

His comments about Israel quickly led to an avalanche of criticism from anti-Israel activists online. 

Muslim British political commentator Mehdi Hasan who is a vocal critic of Israel and Zionism, blasted the basketball star online. 

“What a disgrace LeBron is,” Hasan wrote in a repost on 𝕏 of Al Jazeera journalist Laila Al-Arian who repeated the accusations of “ethnic cleansing,” “apartheid,” and “genocide” against Israel. 

"The entire human rights community: Israel is an apartheid state committing genocide and ethnic cleansing. LeBron James: 'I’ve heard great things' about Israel."

The U.S. influencer Hasan Piker also criticized LeBron’s Israel comments, writing “he said I hope I inspire Israel to be great (at killing children) my goat is WASHED."

Other commentators on social media claimed that James ignored the humanitarian situation in Gaza by making a positive nonpolitical remark about the Jewish state. Anti-Israel activists have for years bashed anyone who says positive things about Israel, even when they are not connected to the ongoing conflict. 

Avdija who plays for the Oregon's Portland Trail Blazers, made history earlier this month by becoming the first Israeli player to be chosen for the 75th edition of the prestigious All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome.

"I'm proud. I remember the journey, I came a long way," Avdija said while holding his Team World uniform with the Israeli flag and his number 8. 

"It's a dream come true," he added after scoring 5 points in the first game of the prestigious tournament. The inclusion in the All-Star Game cements his standing as the most successful basketball player in Israel's sport history. 

The 25-year-old Avdija previously played for the Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv before being chosen by the American team Washington Wizards in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft. In 2024, Avdija joined the Oregon Portland Trail Blazers team where his career quickly skyrocketed. 

In January, Avdija was chosen as NBA Western Conference Player of the Week after impressive performances, which peaked with a triple-double scoring in Portland’s victor over San Antonio.