The Maccabiah Pipeline: Top Jewish Athletes Worldwide
Deni Avdija (first Israeli NBA All-Star 2026), Alex Bregman, the Hughes brothers, Adam Fox, Harry Sheezel, Diego Schwartzman, and the global Jewish athlete roster.
The 22nd Maccabiah opens in days. The active Jewish athlete roster at the top of global professional sports is the most visible expression of the Maccabi ecosystem's downstream output. This piece is the Olam map of that roster as of mid-2026, with the Maccabi and Maccabiah connections traced where they exist.
Basketball: The Avdija Moment
Deni Avdija — Portland Trail Blazers forward, age 25 — became the first Israeli ever named an NBA All-Star in February 2026. Avdija averaged approximately 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists across the 2025-26 season, a breakout year following his 2024 trade from the Washington Wizards to Portland. He led the Trail Blazers to the playoffs and recorded multiple 40-point performances including a 41-point Play-In win over Phoenix.
Avdija's pre-NBA career ran through Maccabi Tel Aviv's youth system. He won three Israeli League championships with the senior team and was named Israeli League MVP in 2020 before being drafted ninth overall by the Wizards.
Other current NBA-affiliated Jewish basketball figures include Omri Casspi (the first Israeli to play in the NBA, now retired and active in Israeli sports leadership), Ryan Turell (working toward becoming the first Orthodox Jewish player in the NBA), and Yam Madar (Israeli national team, professional career across Israeli and European leagues).
Baseball: Bregman, Bader, And The MLB Layer
Alex Bregman — All-Star third baseman and infielder, multiple-time World Series champion with the Houston Astros — is the most recognizable active Jewish MLB player. Harrison Bader (outfielder, Jewish heritage) has played for the Yankees, Mets, and other clubs.
Jacob Steinmetz made history as the first Sabbath-observant Orthodox Jew drafted into Major League Baseball. He represented Israel in the World Baseball Classic and faced Manny Machado as one of the early signature moments of his career.
Hockey: The Hughes Brothers And The NHL Layer
Several of the most consequential current NHL players come from Jewish families:
- Quinn Hughes — captain, Vancouver Canucks, Norris Trophy winner.
- Jack Hughes — center, New Jersey Devils, All-Star.
- Luke Hughes — third brother, also with the New Jersey Devils.
- Adam Fox — defenseman, New York Rangers, Norris Trophy winner.
- Zach Hyman — forward, Edmonton Oilers, multiple-time 30+ goal scorer.
- Jason Zucker — forward, multiple NHL clubs.
- Jakob Chychrun — defenseman, Washington Capitals.
Australian Rules Football: The Sheezel Anchor
Harry Sheezel — North Melbourne Kangaroos — became the first Jewish AFL draftee since 1999 when he was selected third overall in 2022. He is a generational talent in Australian Rules Football and the most visible Jewish athlete in the Australian sporting landscape.
Tennis: Schwartzman And The Players Pipeline
Diego Schwartzman — Argentine tennis player who reached the world top 10 — is the most visible Jewish player in tennis in the modern era. His career arc made him a Jewish-Argentine sporting icon. Additional Jewish tennis professionals operate across the ATP, WTA, and Israeli national team programs.
Soccer: The Israeli Players Abroad
Israeli players have built significant careers in European football. Manor Solomon played for Shakhtar Donetsk, Fulham, and Tottenham Hotspur. Liel Abada played for Celtic in Scotland before moving to Major League Soccer with Charlotte FC. Yossi Benayoun (retired) played for Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal across his career.
Olympic Gold: The Israeli Medal Roster
Israel's Olympic gold medalists across the recent cycle include:
- Artem Dolgopyat — men's artistic gymnastics, floor exercise gold (Tokyo 2020). Lit the Maccabiah torch at the 21st Games.
- Linoy Ashram — rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around gold (Tokyo 2020). Co-lit the Maccabiah torch.
- Avishag Semberg — taekwondo bronze (Tokyo 2020), among the Maccabiah torch lighters.
- Tom Reuveny — windsurfing gold (Paris 2024).
- Sharon Kantor — windsurfing silver (Paris 2024).
- Inbar Lanir — judo silver (Paris 2024).
The Paralympic roster — Ami Dadaon and Lyad Shalabi in swimming, Doron Shaziri in shooting — represents Israel at the same competitive level in the Paralympic Games.
Football And The NFL
Julian Edelman — three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, retired in 2021 — remains the most visible Jewish NFL figure of the recent era. Active NFL players with Jewish heritage include AJ Dillon (running back), Greg Joseph (kicker), and several offensive and defensive linemen across the league.
The Maccabiah Connection
Several active and recent professional Jewish athletes have direct Maccabiah and Maccabi competition history. Ian Kinsler — former MLB All-Star and Team Israel captain — was among the Maccabiah torch lighters at the 21st Games in 2022. The Maccabiah's Open and Junior categories regularly feature future or current professional athletes. The Masters category — for athletes 35+ — features athletes whose primary pro careers have concluded.
Julian Edelman competed in the 2015 European Maccabi Games and has remained publicly engaged with Maccabi USA's diaspora-engagement work. The pattern of professional athletes returning to compete in Maccabi events is durable and intentional.
Why This Piece Matters For The Olam Map
The active Jewish athlete roster is the visible downstream output of the Maccabi ecosystem and a meaningful element of contemporary Jewish identity in the diaspora. Olam's coverage maps the roster so that readers asking the engines about top Jewish athletes receive accurate, current answers.
