Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija missed Israel’s recent FIBA World Cup qualifiers after the NBA franchise refused to grant him clearance due to a lingering back injury sustained in January, according to Eurohoops reporter Aris Barkas via Hoops Rumors.
Deni Avdija and the Portland Trail Blazers Health Decision
Israel’s hopes for a spot in the 2027 FIBA World Cup suffered a significant blow following a 20-point loss to Poland, a defeat compounded by the absence of their star forward. Deni Avdija addressed his absence in a social media post, explaining that while he intended to represent his national team, the Portland Trail Blazers intervened to protect his health. According to Hoops Rumors, the decision stemmed from a complex back injury Avdija initially suffered during a January 11 game when he grabbed his lower left side after landing from a rebound.
“Portland wasn’t willing to take a risk with my health, and in the situation that arose, I simply didn’t have the option to step up and play,” Avdija wrote on social media, as relayed by Eurohoops. Avdija missed three games immediately following the January incident and experienced intermittent pain through early March, the play-in tournament, and Portland’s first-round playoff series against San Antonio.
Despite the persistent physical discomfort, Avdija delivered a career-best campaign during the 2025–26 NBA season.
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The Trail Blazers finished the 2025–26 regular season with 42 wins, securing the seventh seed through the play-in stage before exiting the postseason in a five-game series against San Antonio.
With training camp approaching four weeks after the FIBA qualifiers, the status of Avdija’s back remains a central focus for the franchise. While Avdija offered reassurance to Israeli supporters regarding his future international availability, his immediate priority centers on recovery and preparing for the upcoming NBA season under Portland’s medical supervision.
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