Deni Avdija, 25, gave a rare candid interview after his strong season in Portland, talking about the price of success, the loneliness that comes with fame, his family, and what it means to be an Israeli star in the NBA. The piece also includes a playful one-on-one basketball exchange with interviewer Danny Kushmaro, where Avdija joked and trash-talked while showing off his skills.
Avdija said he grew rapidly at 15, adding 12 or 13 centimeters over one summer, and that being very tall made him self-conscious at first. He also described the physical inconveniences of being 2.04 meters tall, including hitting his head often, and quipped, “Please, airlines, make one seat for tall people.” He recalled his first TV interview at 17, when he said he wanted to be better than Omri Casspi, and said, “I hope they forgive me,” adding that he always respected Casspi but wanted to surpass him.
He spoke at length about his father, former Yugoslavia and Israeli player Zoran “Zvi” Avdija, saying his upbringing combined “the warm Israeli side and the cold Serbian side.” He described postgame drives home filled with “shouting, arguments in the car, crying on the way back home,” and said his father’s toughness shaped him. Avdija admitted he was a poor student, never finished high school matriculation exams, and is bad at math, though he can count points and rebounds.
Avdija said his salary and lifestyle changed, but not his character. He is working on a 1965 Ford Mustang convertible, likes fashion and bags, and serves as a pitchman for several brands. He said life in Portland is isolated, that he often eats alone, and that his mother lives with him there. On relationships, he said the demands of his career make them difficult and, “I think it scares a lot of girls.”
He also discussed a serious Portland car crash in which another driver ran a red light, the car was totaled, his father was injured, and Avdija later missed about a month with a back issue. He said the pressure can be crushing, sometimes leaving him with only an hour of sleep, and that he does not talk to a psychologist, but to his mother. In the current climate, he said he faces more abuse online, but also strong support from Israelis and Jews at games. He added that he feels a responsibility to represent Israel, supports the army, and hopes to live in Israel eventually, saying he wants his future children to grow up there.
