Deni Avdija‘s standout performance in Poland was rewarded with All-Star recognition.
The Portland Trail Blazers forward was named to the EuroBasket All-Star Second Team, joining a collection of NBA and professional players to be honored for their exceptional play at the international tournament.
Avdija joined NBA MVP Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Utah Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen (Finland), Cedi Osman (Turkey) and Jordan Loyd (Poland) on the second team.
The first team, which EuroBasket calls the “All-Star Five,” featured Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder (Germany), Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Luka Doncic (Slovenia), NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (Germany) and Houston Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun (Turkey).
Schroder, who led Germany to the EuroBasket championship, was named MVP.
Avdija was rewarded for his consistent and often dominant play during a six-game run in Katowice, Poland. He averaged 24.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals, and led Israel to the knockout round, where it lost to Antetokounmpo and Greece.
Avdija finished third in scoring and sixth in steals in the event, which is held every four years. His standout tournament included an explosive 34-point, nine-rebound performance in a loss to Slovenia and a 23-point, eight-rebound, five-steal effort in a win over France. The 6-foot-9 forward scored 20 or more points in all six games and shot 49.4% from the field, including 35.6% from three-point range.
Watch highlights on Avdija’s EuroBasket play below:
—Joe Freeman is a senior writer at The Oregonian/OregonLive covering the Trail Blazers and NBA. Reach him at 503-294-5183,jfreeman@oregonian.com,@BlazerFreeman or@freemanjoe.bsky.social.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.