Spike Lee Wears Pro-Palestinian Outfit to NBA All-Star Game

Israeli-born player Deni Avdija competes on World All-Stars team

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Filmmaker Spike Lee wore a pro-Palestinian outfit to the NBA All-Star Game in Inglewood, California, where the league debuted a new format featuring World All-Stars and All-Stars from the U.S. The World All-Stars team included Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, the first Israeli-born player to appear in an NBA All-Star Game. Avdija wore the Israeli flag on the back of his jersey.

Why it matters

Lee's outfit choice brought political issues into the spotlight at the high-profile NBA event, though the players themselves tried to keep the focus on basketball. The relationship between Israel and some neighboring countries, including Turkey, remains tense, making Avdija's participation noteworthy.

The details

Spike Lee was seated courtside at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood for the NBA All-Star Game. While he did not make any extra statement, his pro-Palestinian outfit was seen as a message. Avdija, who is Israeli-born, played 15 total minutes for the World All-Stars team, which lost both of its games in the new format.

  • The NBA All-Star Game took place on February 16, 2026.

The players

Spike Lee

An American filmmaker known for his outspoken political views, who was seated courtside at the NBA All-Star Game.

Deni Avdija

A forward for the Portland Trail Blazers and the first Israeli-born player to appear in an NBA All-Star Game.

Alperen Sengun

A star player for the Houston Rockets who is from Turkey, a country with a tense relationship with Israel.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like when I come to play, I come with the entire nation, and it's fun to show that it's possible, even for a small country like us.”

— Deni Avdija (Times of Israel)

“You know, I think that stuff is a lot bigger than ours. We just going to represent our country, here, you know, the best we can. Deni is the same harder worker. You know, great guy, great person. One of my good friends in this league.”

— Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets player (Fox News)

The takeaway

Spike Lee's pro-Palestinian outfit at the NBA All-Star Game highlighted the ongoing political tensions in the region, even as the players themselves tried to keep the focus on the sport. Deni Avdija's participation as the first Israeli-born player in the event was a notable milestone, though the relationship between Israel and neighboring countries like Turkey remains a complex issue.