LeBron James faces backlash after praising Deni Avdija and Israel amid ongoing Gaza crisis

LeBron James has faced online criticism following comments made about Israel while praising Deni Avdija ahead of the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

Avdija, a forward for the Portland Trail Blazers, became the first Israeli player to feature in the NBA All-Star Game after being selected as a Western Conference reserve by coaches. The 25-year-old is averaging 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game this season, marking a career-best campaign.

Speaking before the game, James, who represents the Los Angeles Lakers, praised Avdija’s performances. “Well, I’ve been quoted on Deni already,” he said. “They asked me what I thought about the season. I said I believe he was an All-Star — and I mean, he was an All-Star. He’s playing exceptional basketball. So that’s that.”

James also addressed fans in Israel, stating, “If I have fans over there — I’ve never been there — if I have fans over there, then I hope I inspire people over there not only to want to be great in sports, but to be better in general in life. Hopefully someday I can make it over there. Like I said, I’ve never been over there, but I’ve heard nothing but great things.”

The remarks prompted backlash on social media, with some users criticising the timing of his comments amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

One user stated, “he said hope i inspire israel to be great (at killing children) my goat is WASHED.” Another wrote, “straight up ruined his legacy forever.” A further comment read, “Dumbass could’ve just left it at praising Deni, but he said ‘I’ve heard great things’. 73K casualties in Gaza, what great things did you hear”.

James has not publicly responded to the criticism.

Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry estimated that as of January 27, 2026, at least 71,662 people in Gaza have been killed by Israeli violence since October 7, 2023, a figure Israel has accepted.