Avdija and Lillard Form New Trio, Aim to Cause Trouble in NBA
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Deni Avdija, Damian Lillard, and Ja Morant are forming a new star trio for the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard expressed excitement about the group, stating they will "cause trouble for a lot of teams." The team showcased their potential in a recent scrimmage, where Morant was named MVP.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Deni Avdija, Damian Lillard, and Ja Morant form a new star trio for the Trail Blazers.
- Lillard believes the trio will "cause trouble for a lot of teams."
- Ja Morant was named MVP of the team's Fan Fest scrimmage.
- Avdija's role is elevated after a breakout All-Star season.
- The team's first preseason game is against the Golden State Warriors.
Israeli player Deni Avdija is set to embrace a new role with the Portland Trail Blazers this season, forming a dynamic trio alongside returning star Damian Lillard and newly acquired Ja Morant. The team offered a glimpse of this potential during an internal 40-minute scrimmage at the Moda Center as part of the franchise's Fan Fest event. Avdija started for the grey team, which also featured Lillard, Scoot Henderson, Sidy Cissoko, and Donovan Clingan. Morant played for the black team, alongside Toumani Camara, Mika Potter, Yang Hansen, and Jrue Holiday.
Morant was the standout performer of the night, receiving a huge ovation and delivering impressive plays including a 360-degree dunk and an alley-oop. The scrimmage ended in a 96-96 tie, with Morant hitting a game-winning half-court shot, earning him MVP honors from the fans. Avdija had a moment of levity when his attempted windmill dunk was thwarted by the rim, drawing laughter from teammate Brenden Carlson, though Avdija attempted it again unsuccessfully.
Despite Morant's highlight performance, Lillard emphasized the significance of the new three-star combination. "I'm excited to be on the same side as him," Lillard said of Morant. "A dynamic player like Ja will demand a lot of attention, just like I will, and so will Deni. We are going to cause trouble for a lot of teams."
This statement underscores Avdija's elevated status within the Trail Blazers. Following a breakout season where he was named an All-Star for the first time and averaged 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists, Avdija is now considered one of the team's three core players for the upcoming season. The Trail Blazers are scheduled to play their first preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday at 5:00 AM.
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