NBA Writer Suggests Deni Avdija Would Be Perfect Alongside Luka Dončić
NBA journalist Nacho Losilla of DAZN has proposed a hypothetical starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers centered around Luka Dončić, featuring Israeli player Deni Avdija as a key component. Losilla described Avdija as an ideal "second star" to play alongside Dončić, highlighting his physicality, transition play, size, and ability to draw fouls. He believes the combination would be incredibly disruptive to opponents.
Losilla elaborated on Avdija's defensive prowess and versatility in offensive schemes, suggesting he could effectively run pick-and-rolls with Dončić or allow Dončić to focus on scoring. The journalist stated that few players in the league are as well-suited to play with Dončić as Avdija, even acknowledging that such a pairing is highly unlikely to materialize.
Avdija is coming off a career-best season with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he played a significant role in their playoff appearance. His strong performance has led to increased speculation about his potential as a star player across the league. Losilla referred to Avdija as "Mini Giannis" in his assessment.
The upcoming 2026-27 NBA season for Avdija and the Trail Blazers is set to begin on October 22nd at 5:00 AM, with their opening game against the Phoenix Suns.
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