The Brooklyn Nets rookie and Danny Wolf got fans overseas to tune in for this rare NBA moment.
The Brooklyn Nets versus Portland Trail Blazers contest drew in an Israeli following Monday.
This contest featured a rare moment for the NBA: Three Israel talents facing off against one another. Or as Ben Saraf called it, facing a friend of his.
Saraf took on Deni Avdija on the same floor inside the Barclays Center. Avdija's Blazers won handily 114-95 by scoring 18 points, tying him for the team lead alongside Toumani Camara.
Saraf wasn't the only Nets player of Israeli descent on the floor. Same with fellow rookie Danny Wolf in helping produce the rare league moment.
Avdija described it as feeling like he was back in Tel Aviv with the crowd energy and pace of play. Saraf kept in tabs with the 25-year-old NBA star on the Blazers before making it to the league as a rookie.
“It was great [facing Deni tonight]. I was waiting for this game for a long time,” Saraf said via Erik Slater of ClutchPoints. “He's a great dude, a great friend of mine. Especially with Danny Wolf [playing], too. Three Israelis on the court at the same time. It was something very special."
Saraf praised the way Avdija has approached the NBA game which has impacted back home.
"[Deni's] had a huge impact [on basketball in Israel]. The entire year, everybody in Israel has followed him. Everybody was supporting," Saraf said. "The guys from Israel know how big it was to have an Israeli All-Star for the first time. It was huge. So, we're all very happy for him."
The Blazers star felt the energy overseas too.
“I know a lot of people were watching the game back home tonight. It's awesome,” Avdija said. “This is a big one for me, especially [since Ben and I] grew up next to each other. Like 20 minutes from each other. It's awesome to see him scoring and thriving in the league. Danny, too… I was definitely amazed to see the Barclays Center full."
The success of all three and the interest level in the homeland "means a lot to me" as Avdija put it.
"I have no words to describe the amount of support they gave me and the guys. I’m very happy to have this crowd behind me. I'm happy they saw us playing tonight," Advija added.
His Blazers stayed in the hunt for a postseason berth in the Western Conference with the win. Brooklyn dropped to 17-51 overall.
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