Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija continued his offensive thrill ride during Sunday afternoon’s 110-93 loss at the New York Knicks.
After accumulating 33 points, seven rebounds and four assists at Madison Square Garden, the Israeli-born Avdija fielded numerous questions from the media, some representing Israeli publications. Avdija is the NBA’s lone player from Israel, where he’s a national sports hero.
“I was just aggressive, reading the game, trying to make plays, trying to go to the rim and be aggressive towards the rim,” Avdija told reporters about his performance against the Knicks. “That’s about it. Beyond that, I feel like it’s instincts, just me reading my game and making the right play. And I did solid tonight.”
In 13 games during March, Avdija is averaging 23.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists while shooting 51% from the field and 45.7% from beyond the arc.
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was asked several questions about Avdija’s development since being acquired last offseason in a draft-day trade, and their working relationship.
“Obviously, I love Deni,” Billups told reporters. “He’s been a great player for us this year. It’s been fun coaching him. It’s been fun really getting to know him.”
That included limited discussions about how the war in Gaza has impacted Avdija.
“As a coach, you’ve got to get to know all your guys and get to know what they believe in, what they stand for, what they like, what they don’t like,” Billups said. “You just have to do that in order to get to know him, in order to coach him hard, like I do.”
Early last summer, Billups said, Avdija sought him out to chat.
“He would come in and sit in my office and we’d talk about what’s going on,” Billups said. “He had some, obviously, some very rough days, and weeks carrying a heavy heart.”
Those conversations, Billups said, were private.
“We started talking through a lot of things that I will obviously keep between Deni and I,” Billups said.
Billups said he loved that he and Avdija built a close relationship where he feels comfortable confiding in his coach.
“And now he’s telling me that it’s mandatory, I got to come and spend some time and see him this summer,” Billups said.
Avdija said he hasn’t gotten much into politics with Billups, but appreciates what the coach has done for him, mainly as a player.
Portland Trail Blazers v New York Knicks
Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers attempts a layup during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 30, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)Getty Images
“I think his confidence in me is amazing,” Avdija said. “I feel like he lets me play free, and he lets me read the game. He trusts me.”
Avdija began the season slowly and eventually lost his starting job. He regained it after demonstrating more consistency and cranking up his attacking style of play. That began with a request from Billups while Avdija was struggling.
“I told Deni, ‘Whenever you rebound the ball and you get the rebound, that’s your play,‘” Billups said. “And he really took that to heart. And he started getting that ball and man, that’s where the turbo thing, he gets the ball and he just outruns everybody on both teams. I thought that really, really lit his fire early on.”
During October and November, Avdija averaged 11.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 39.5% from the field and 31.2% from three-point range. He gradually improved as time went on, then had a bit of a dip in February before hitting his stride in March.
Billups talked extensively about Avdija’s playmaking, his pushing the ball on offense after getting a rebound, and his overall competitiveness.
“That’s maybe one of our best offenses, when he gets the rebound and pushes it, we play so fast,” Billups said. “But I do trust his playmaking when he gets the ball, his decision-making when he gets the ball. I run certain plays halfcourt-wise, where he can facilitate some of the offense because he’s so good at it.”
In his fifth season in the NBA, Avdija said he still struggles at times with being away from home. But family and friends have helped him adjust.
“I feel like I have very good friends and family that come and visit me,” he said.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)