Zufer Avdija

Zufer Avdija (Зуфер Авдија, זופר אבדיה; born October 1, 1959 ) is a Serbian–Israeli professional basketball coach and former player who is the general manager and president of basketball operations for Bnei Herzliya of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He played for Crvena zvezda in the Yugoslav Basketball League during the 1980s, and for Israeli clubs Ramat HaSharon, Rishon LeZion, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Elitzur Bat Yam in the 1990s. He represented the Yugoslavia basketball team internationally. His son, Deni, is a current NBA player for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Early and personal life
Avdija was born in Priština, SAP Kosovo, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia (present-day Pristina, Kosovo). He is of ethnic Gorani-Muslim descent (from Gora in southern Kosovo). When he was 15 he briefly played football as a goalkeeper for Ramiz Sadiku youth team in Pristina. He married and had 2 children, a daughter Iva and a son, Andrej.

He later married Sharon Artzi, an Israeli Jew from kibbutz Beit Zera, who is a former track and field athlete and basketball player. Their Israeli-born son, Deni Avdija (born 2001), is also a professional basketball player. Deni was drafted as the 9th overall pick by the Washington Wizards in the 2020 NBA draft. Their son Deni also represents the Israel national team internationally.

Club career
A power forward, Avdija started his basketball career with his hometown team Elektrokosovo. In 1979, he joined the Belgrade-based team Crvena zvezda of the Yugoslav Basketball League, where he played during the 1980s. He was a team captain.

In the 1990s, Avdija played for Israeli clubs: Ramat HaSharon, Hapoel Herzliya, Rishon LeZion, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Elitzur Bat Yam.

International career
Avdija was a member of the Yugoslavia national team that won the bronze medal at the 1982 FIBA World Championship in Colombia, alongside teammates from Crvena zvezda, Rajko Žižić and Zoran Radović. He scored his tournament-high with 24 points in a 101–77 win over Uruguay. Over four tournament games, he averaged 8.8 points per game.

Additionally, Avdija also won the gold medal at the 1983 Mediterranean Games in Morocco. He played 50 games for the national team.