Deni Avdija didn’t really stand out in his first All-Star appearance — with five points, four assists and one rebound in 15 minutes — but being selected for the game confirmed to fans who may not follow the Trail Blazers closely that he’s one of the league’s best players, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. Avdija also made history by becoming the first-ever Israeli-born All-Star, and he’s aware of his importance to his home nation.
“I have definitely worked hard, sacrificed a lot of my time to get to the best stage in the world,” he said. “And I feel like this is a dream come true for every kid that actually wants to play basketball. Having a whole country behind me, it’s just a blessing to represent it on the biggest stage in the world.”
Avdija showed promise during his four years in Washington, but his career really took off after being traded to the Blazers in the summer of 2024. He’s in the midst of his best NBA season, averaging 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists through 46 games, and Freeman notes that he’s one of just three players currently posting those numbers.
Avdija has grown to love Portland and sees his future there, Freeman adds.
“I definitely want to amplify a good culture into the organization,” he said. “I hope I’m going to stay in Portland. I love the city, the fans, and I think we’re in a good spot. I’m glad to be part of this rebuilding (effort) and I’m really seeing a bright future.”
There’s more on the Trail Blazers:
- Damian Lillard said that since his Achilles tear last spring he’s been consulting doctors, trainers and other players who’ve been through the same experience, including Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum and Rudy Gay, Freeman states in a separate story. He found their advice to be “more encouraging than discouraging,” and it gave him the inspiration to win the three-point contest on Saturday. “I do think I represent strength,” Lillard said. “We are athletes, so when we go through an injury, people act like it’s the end of the world because people are used to us being lifted up and everything being about us. But people go through way worse and they carry on and they continue to move forward. So, for me, it was more about representing strength for people.”
- Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen squared off as opponents during Friday’s Rising Stars event, Freeman adds in another piece. Clingan stated that they battle all the time in practice, but it was fun to compete with more people watching. “It just shows me the next step, to try to play on Sunday, to really just put the work in,” he said of the All-Star Weekend experience. “Obviously I’ll take a couple days off, get a nice little break, and then really just work for Sunday for the future.”
- The Blazers are appealing to Oregon state legislators for $600MM in public funding to upgrade the Moda Center before the team is sole to Tom Dundon, per Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report (subscription required). There are growing concerns that the team might eventually leave Portland, although commissioner Adam Silver said over the weekend that there are no plans to move any existing franchise. Bill Oram of The Oregonian makes an argument for why the improvements are needed.