Deni Avdija Aims for Defensive Growth and Sacrifice in Upcoming NBA Season
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Israeli basketball player Deni Avdija is entering his seventh NBA season with the Portland Trail Blazers, aiming to improve his defense and become a two-way player. He emphasized the need for team sacrifice and chemistry, stating that everyone must adapt their game to achieve success. Avdija believes the team's versatility and focus on winning will be key factors in their upcoming 2026/27 season.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Deni Avdija aims to improve his defense and become an excellent two-way player in the upcoming NBA season.
- Avdija stressed that all players must sacrifice for the team to become a winning organization.
- He highlighted the Portland Trail Blazers' versatility and new coaching staff as strengths.
- The Israeli player believes team chemistry and understanding roles were successfully built during preseason.
- Avdija is confident in the team's talent and personality to adapt to various situations.
As the NBA season approaches, Israeli player Deni Avdija is entering his seventh year in the league and his first as a proven All-Star. Speaking after the preseason concluded and with the 2026/27 season opener imminent, Avdija discussed his personal goals and those of his team, the Portland Trail Blazers.
Avdija described the team as new, with a fresh coaching staff, and expressed satisfaction with their preseason performance. "The goal was to create chemistry together, play together, get to know each other, know the roles," he stated. "We played for each other, shared the ball, had some good wins. I feel we are entering the season in a good mood."
He highlighted the team's versatility, noting their ability to play multiple positions, attack the basket, and defend effectively. Avdija believes everyone on the team is focused and that the coaching staff will put them in advantageous situations. "We'll just go with the lineups. Every lineup has its pros and cons, and we'll just go with it," he added.
Avdija's primary personal goal for the season is to improve his defense, aiming to become an excellent two-way player. He noted that the coach expects the best from everyone and pushes them to reach their highest potential.
Regarding the team's aspirations, Avdija emphasized the necessity of sacrifice. "Everyone has to sacrifice, like many good winning teams," he explained. "When you gather a lot of talent together, everyone has to sacrifice and do something they are less accustomed to. Step up on defense, and maybe sometimes play without the ball. That's part of the game and that's what will make us great."
He concluded by stating the team's focus is on winning and doing whatever it takes to become a winning organization. Avdija believes that players who earn the most are the winners, and everyone understands this, which will manifest in more off-ball play. He is confident in the team's talent and personality to adapt to any situation, including himself.
