Deni Avdija, now 25, has emerged as a breakout star for the Portland Trail Blazers after a difficult youth in Israel. He faced intense physical and verbal criticism from coaches and teammates at Maccabi Tel Aviv, which built a hardened resilience. After a sluggish start to his Portland career, coach Chauncey Billups empowered him to push the ball in transition, unlocking his potential. Injuries to Portland’s guards forced Avdija into a primary playmaking role this season, where he has flourished, posting statistics comparable to Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić. Amidst All-Star votes and a team-friendly contract, Avdija remains a point of pride for Israel, tuning out political noise to focus on leading a rebuilding Blazers squad back to contention.
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Deni Avdija’s unexpected rise to NBA’s new breakout star — and Israel’s greatest player ever
By mychabi2013
