A landmark moment unfolded Monday night at Barclays Center when Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers faced Brooklyn Nets rookies Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, marking the first time three Israeli players appeared in the same NBA game. Portland won 114–95, but the historic significance of the night drew much more attention.

The most established of the three is Deni Avdija, a 25-year-old forward from Israel who was selected ninth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft and is now in his fifth NBA season. After beginning his pro career with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Avdija entered the league with Washington before being acquired by Portland on July 6, 2024. He has grown into one of the Trail Blazers’ central pieces, and in Monday’s game, he finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. NBA.com currently lists him at 6-foot-8, 228 pounds, with 24.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game this season.

Ben Saraf is the youngest of the trio. The 19-year-old guard was selected by Brooklyn with the 26th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after developing with Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany. The Nets then formally announced his signing on July 3, 2025. NBA.com lists Saraf at 6-foot-6, 200 pounds, and he entered the league with a reputation for ball-handling and advanced playmaking for his age. On Monday night, he turned in one of the better games of his young NBA career, posting 15 points and 4 assists against Portland.

The third player in the game, Danny Wolf, comes from a somewhat different path. Wolf is an American-Israeli big man who played collegiately at Yale and then Michigan before Brooklyn selected him with the 27th overall pick in the 2025 draft, one spot after Saraf. He also signed with the Nets on July 3, 2025. NBA.com lists Wolf at 6-foot-11, 250 pounds. In Monday’s game, he contributed 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.

There was also another layer of history here: Saraf and Wolf were chosen back-to-back by the same team in the first round of the 2025 draft, a rare moment on its own before they ever shared the floor with Avdija. By Monday night, that draft curiosity had turned into an NBA first.

The game itself was pretty straightforward. Portland pulled ahead and stayed in control pretty much the whole game, eventually winning 114–95. They just looked stronger all night, moving the ball well and pulling away in the second half. Brooklyn had some decent moments, especially from their younger guys, but couldn’t really keep it close. Still, the score almost felt secondary with everyone watching every second the three Israeli players were on the court.

This is a really cool milestone for Israeli basketball players, as three players, all at different stages, all shared the same NBA floor. Avdija is already proving he belongs. Saraf looks like a guard with serious upside. Wolf brings size and feel that teams value. Seeing all three out there felt like a glimpse of what can come next.