“Friends who are combat soldiers”: Blazers’ rising star Deni Avdija expresses solidarity with Israel and wishes to bring pride to homeland
While the NBA is a global game, Deni Avdija is one of the few players in the league from Israel. As he prepares for a fresh start in 2025, the veteran forward shared a heartfelt message regarding his homeland.
Avdija posted a photo of his locker on his Instagram story on September 24, proudly displaying the Israel's flag. He also touched on the ongoing war in the Middle East, expressing his desire to bring pride to his country through basketball.
"I have friends who are combat soldiers who risked their lives for the country, and my heart is with them all the time, Avdija said. "I’ve been very interested in their well-being and the well-being of the hostages’ families. I try to help as much as I can, balancing it with my career."
I tried to do what I could to bring some pride to Israel through basketball and my efforts off the court.”
Deni Avdija, 23, is gearing up for his fifth season in the NBA. He began his career with the Washington Wizards in 2020 after being drafted No. 9 overall. However, he saw himself traded to the Portland Trail Blazers this offseason.
Deni Avdija coming off his best season in the NBA
Since being a lottery pick in 2020, Deni Avdija has slowly developed for the Washington Wizards. The 2024 campaign ended up being a bit of a breakout year for him as he showcased the potential of being a do-it-all forward in the NBA.
Avdija saw a larger role for the Wizards last season, and made the most of the opportunity. Across 75 games, he averaged career-highs in points (14.7), rebounds (7.2 rebounds) and assists (3.8). Avdija also had his best three-point shooting season, converting 37.4% of his attempts on reasonable volume.
Coming off this impressive season, Deni Avdija saw himself on the move. In his new situation, he’ll have a chance to display his abilities even more.
After trading Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers have fully embraced a youth movement. They’ve already started collecting promising young talent, most notably Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and Donovan Clingan.
Even though he is slightly older than some of the other core members, Avdija can also become a key piece of the Blazers’ future. In the event the front office moves on from Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton, he can be the long-term answer next to Clingan in the frontcourt.
Henderson and Sharpe are two athletic guards who are at their best when getting downhill. Knowing this, the Blazers need the other players on the court to open the floor. If Avdija can maintain his efficiency, he’d be an ideal three-and-D wing for Portland for the foreseeable future.