Deni Avdija
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Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers is having a breakout season.
One of the breakout stars of the season is Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers. Avdija is putting up All-Star numbers for a competitive Blazers team that is currently sitting ninth in a stacked Western Conference.
Avdija has missed five of the last seven games due to a back injury. The Blazers are 2-3 in the five games he was sidelined, which isn’t bad since they beat the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers.
According to Sean Highkin of Rip City Radio 620 Portland, Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter told reporters in his pregame media availability on Monday that Avdija will be making his return on Tuesday against the Washington Wizards.
Splitter explained that the Blazers were just being cautious of their star forward and decided to give him an extra day of rest in the first game of a back-to-back. Avdija is also returning to his old stomping grounds in the capital, where he played the first four seasons of his career.
Avdija’s Secret to Success
The Washington Wizards selected Deni Avdija ninth overall in the 2020 NBA draft out of Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel. Avdija was compared to players like Mike Miller, Danny Granger and Hedo Turkoglu, as per NBA Draft Room.
However, Avdija’s most popular comparison was Luka Doncic due to their similar size and build. It was a tough mountain to overcome, especially at such a young age. He struggled in his first three seasons with the Wizards, primarily coming off the bench.
Avdija finally got his big break in his fourth year, becoming a starter and averaging 14.7 points per game. He was then traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in the summer of 2024.
In just his second season in Portland, Avdija could be on his way to his first All-Star Game. He’s averaging 26.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game, shooting 47.1% from the field, 35.6% from beyond the arc and 80.7% from the charity stripe.
The 25-year-old forward is also leading the league in free-throw attempts per game this season at 9.8.
Speaking to Jason Quick of The Athletic last week, Avdija revealed his key to success this season.
“I think I’m able to get through stuff without complaining or feeling sorry for myself. I’ve learned I can’t have any excuses. I’ve had to deal with a lot of stuff in my career: not playing, players being physical with me, no air space. … But I think from a young age, I’ve always had to figure it out on my own. And I think that has made me tough,” Avdija said.
Will Avdija Become an All-Star?
Based on his numbers, Deni Avdija deserves an All-Star nod this season. However, the Western Conference is so loaded with talent, so it will be interesting to see if Avdija gets chosen as one of the seven reserves.
With the Blazers’ record below .500 at the moment, his chances are getting slimmer, but it won’t be surprising if the coaches reward him anyway. Avdija is also the favorite to take home the Most Improved Player award ahead of Jalen Johnson and Keyonte George.