How Deni Avdija Turned Early NBA Struggles into a Breakthrough

Micha Lutzky’s new Hebrew book, “(H)et-hala LeShabbat, A Guide to Beginnings,” uses stories of athletes, entrepreneurs, and artists to show how people start over and succeed. One of its central examples is Deni Avdija’s difficult first season with the Washington Wizards after entering the NBA as a rookie.

According to the book, Avdija arrived in Washington to a harsh environment. The NBA gives no special treatment to first-year players, and he had to cope with a broken foot that ended his debut season early, plus a series of nagging injuries. American sports commentators also questioned the Wizards’ decision to draft him. On top of that, he had to adjust to a new role as a supporting player, not the main star.

Avdija saw limited action on a team led by Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, both established stars. Even when he played, he rarely touched the ball and struggled to show his offensive skills. Faced with the choice of buckling under pressure or using criticism as motivation, he chose to keep working. He stayed in the gym, improved his outside shooting, strengthened his footwork on defense, and added muscle.

That work paid off in a $55 million contract, described as the largest in Israeli sports history. The book presents that deal as only the prelude to what Lutzky calls Avdija’s larger breakthrough. Lutzky says the book was inspired by her weekly column, which produced more than 120 stories, and argues that in the age of artificial intelligence, the most important human skill is the ability to begin something new. The book also includes practical exercises, a model called S.T.A.R.T Never-Over, and for the first time, a personal story from Lutzky herself.