His mind was consumed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, his lower back was sore and the Portland Trail Blazers were mired in a funk.
So Deni Avdija’s emotions were mixed Sunday when he learned that he had been voted to his first All-Star team, earning the greatest individual basketball achievement of his NBA career.
“I think it will sink in tonight more than anything,” Avdija said of his All-Star selection. “Because I was really focused on the team and the game versus Cleveland.”
When news arrived that Western Conference coaches had named him an All-Star reserve, tipoff for the Blazers-Cavaliers game was less than four hours away, so Avdija was knee-deep in film study. As he scrutinized an endless loop of video clips and scouting, Avdija’s phone started buzzing.
And buzzing. And buzzing. And buzzing.
They were text message alerts from friends and family offering congratulations. But his first thought was negative.
“Maybe it’s buzzing because, like, I didn’t get selected and people are like, ‘Oh, never mind, you’ll go next year, whatever,’” Avdija said, smiling.
But he won’t have to wait. Coaches rewarded Avdija’s exceptional first half of the season, during which he averaged 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists while keeping the Blazers in the chase for a spot in the play-in tournament despite a rash of injuries. He is one of just three players in the NBA averaging at least 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists, joining Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic.
It’s not only the first All-Star selection of Avdija’s six-year career but also the first for any Blazers player not named Damian Lillard since 2015, when LaMarcus Aldridge was named a reserve. Lillard has represented the Blazers at the All-Star game seven times since 2014, most recently in 2023.
Avdija did not play Sunday — he was a late scratch because of a lingering lower back strain — but he spoke to reporters afterward in the postgame locker room about his All-Star selection.
Here are a few highlights of what he had to say:
Avdija thought there was a legitimate chance he would not be selected.
“I think there’s great players that didn’t get chosen for the All Star game. And, obviously, there’s a lot of talent in this league that could have been (selected) instead of me. But I worked hard. I play hard. I don’t want to say I deserve it, but I do respect me and my game and I’m really happy that I’m able to be an All Star.”
Have you given yourself time to enjoy it yet?
“I don’t know. I think the mindset of being in it is ... it’s just fun. I have a lot of other things I think about. How to win games. We’re struggling a little bit right now as a team, so I’m thinking more about the team right now than actually the All-Star (game). I feel like the closer it’s going to get (to All-Star Weekend), the more I’m going to think about it. But for now I really try to stay with my teammates.”
On the reaction from friends and family:
“A lot of congratulation messages. I don’t have a lot of friends and family here with me, but obviously (they) contacted me. The amount of love, not only from family and friends, but also the fans — and the whole State of Israel for real is just standing behind me — it’s amazing. My teammates have been awesome. Coaches. Everybody just hugging and showing the love.”
On how his teammates have fueled his All-Star berth:
“I couldn’t do it without my teammates, couldn’t do it without them. How we share the ball, how we play hard, how are we in the standings. It’s a team sport at the end of the day. You can be as good as you want, but you need your teammates to be there. You need to play as a team, contribute. Having success as a team and an individual, I feel like they’ve done a great job. I can go down the line and thank my teammates and they know I love them and they helped me pursue the dream and I’m going to help them pursue theirs.”
On how it’s bittersweet sitting out with an injury the same day he was named All-Star:
“I always want to play. And you know me, I’m a very tough guy. I never want to sit out and it’s very hard to see my teammates out there playing and really competing and I’m not able to help. But at the end of the day, there is still a long season to go and there (are) still accomplishments that we need to do. And I don’t want to be half Deni in those. I really want to be myself. As much as it is hard for me to do, I’ve got to be responsible also for me and also for my teammates, for them to get me 100%.”
On what rookie Deni would say to Deni today:
“That he’s proud. That’s he’s been through a lot. And that I’m glad that I was patient with it and I didn’t give up. No matter the situation, no matter where I’ve been. I’ve been in some moments in this path that wasn’t looking good or great. And I doubted myself. But I kept working out and I kept being patient, and I knew my opportunity to shine would come. And I’m glad this organization and this team let me do it. And hopefully there’s a lot more to come. I don’t think it’s the end.”