Dani Avdija Embraces New Role in Portland Trail Blazers' Preseason
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
Israeli player Dani Avdija has taken on a new role as a screener for the Portland Trail Blazers during their preseason games. This change, observed in their dominant 119-66 win over a London team, allows Avdija to draw defensive attention and facilitate plays for teammates like Scoot Henderson. Coach the coach praised Avdija's controlled play and effort in meeting the challenge of contributing on both ends of the court.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Dani Avdija is playing a new screener role for the Portland Trail Blazers in the preseason.
- Avdija's new role was evident in a 119-66 preseason win against a London team.
- This role allows Avdija to draw defensive attention and facilitate scoring for teammates.
- Coach the coach praised Avdija's controlled play and effort.
- Avdija had only nine screen assists in the entire previous season.
The Portland Trail Blazers are in the early stages of their preseason, with a dominant 119-66 victory over a London team on Tuesday, a game that was effectively decided before tip-off. A notable moment occurred in the first quarter when Israeli player Dani Avdija was deployed in an unfamiliar role, acting as a screener without touching the ball. In this play, Donovan Clingan passed to Scoot Henderson, who then hit a three-pointer after Avdija drew defensive attention.
Avdija saw significant minutes alongside Damian Lillard and Ja Morant in the preseason opener against Golden State, suggesting this new role might continue. For comparison, during the entire previous regular season, Avdija recorded only nine "screen assists" in 2,199 minutes. Portland often lacked a natural point guard last season due to injuries to Henderson and Jrue Holiday. With Henderson and Holiday healthy this season, alongside Lillard and Morant, the team boasts four capable ball-handlers.
This new role reportedly reduces Avdija's offensive burden, allowing him to roll inside after setting a screen. In the 2025-26 season, he executed this move a single-digit number of times. Coach the coach commented on Avdija's effectiveness, noting his presence and the impact of his teammates, as well as the team's improved health compared to last year. The coach stated, "I think he's playing a controlled game, not trying to do too much and playing within his abilities. I think he's really trying to do the right things now. We challenged him to play on both ends of the court, and he's trying to meet it."
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