Spike Lee Chooses ‘Free Palestine’ Stunt Over Celebrating NBA’s First Israeli All-Star

Leave it to filmmaker Spike Lee to prioritize a political costume over a historic moment of athletic achievement.

As the NBA descended upon the Intuit Dome in Southern California for the 2026 All-Star Game, the headlines could have belonged to Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdijam, who made history as the first Israeli-born player to appear in an NBA All-Star Game. Representing the World All-Stars on Team Stars, Avdija wore the Israeli flag on his jersey, a silent but powerful nod to his homeland.

“I feel like when I come to play, I come with the entire nation,” Avdija remarked, celebrating a journey that saw him rise from a 16-year-old prodigy at Maccabi Tel Aviv to an NBA powerhouse averaging 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game, one of only three players this season (alongside Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić) to average a 25/7/6 stat line.

But while Avdija was joining the elite company of Jokić and Dončić on the stat sheet, Lee was busy making a statement. The Oscar winner arrived courtside decked out in pro-Palestinian attire, a move clearly designed to counter the presence of the Israeli star.

The NBA has their first Israeli All-Star (Deni Avdija) & Spike Lee decided to wear a “Free Palestine” outfit… pic.twitter.com/jwky5s0Q4K

— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) February 16, 2026

It is a familiar script for Lee, whose career has been peppered with controversies regarding the Jewish community.

In 1990, Lee was forced to pen a New York Times op-ed titled “I Am Not an Anti-Semite” following the backlash over his stereotypical portrayal of Jewish businessmen in “Mo’ Better Blues.” More recently, in 2021, Lee was caught in a firestorm for featuring 9/11 conspiracy theorists—including those who have entertained antisemitic tropes and blamed Israel for the terror attacks—in his HBO documentary series. He eventually retreated to the editing room to scrub the segment after intense public pressure.

The contrast in Southern California was stark. While Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun, who is Turkish, offered a class act by praising his “good friend” Avdija and calling for “peace in all world,” Lee chose the path of the provocateur.

As the league attempted to showcase a global game of “love and staying together,” Lee’s wardrobe choice served as a reminder that for some, the narrative of grievance always trumps the merit of the individual.