Lillard Praises Avdija as Best Teammate He's Played With

Israeli basketball player Denny Avdija scored a season-high 34 points on Saturday to help the Portland Trail Blazers defeat the Sacramento Kings 120-107 in an NBA Cup game. Following the victory, Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard lauded Avdija, stating he enjoys playing with the Israeli forward more than any other teammate.

"I think when it comes to playing as a duo, I enjoy playing with him the most out of all the players I've played with," Lillard told reporters. He attributed this to Avdija's playing style, which he said makes the game easier for him and draws significant defensive attention.

Lillard expressed high confidence in Avdija, especially after his own return from injury. He noted Avdija's ability to control games, create opportunities, and ease the offensive burden, allowing Lillard to do the same for him. "It's great to have a player by my side that I can rely on like that," Lillard added, emphasizing how Avdija's style and mentality smoothed his own comeback.

Regarding the NBA Cup, Lillard stressed the importance of the win to maintain their chances in the tournament. He acknowledged the Kings' struggles but focused on Portland's execution. "We wanted to keep our chance in the Cup, so it was an important game regardless of the Kings' difficulties," he said. "When a team is going through a tough time, you don't want to be the one against whom they turn things around. We focused on what we needed to do and succeeded."

Lillard also commented on the team's success in road games, seeing it as a reflection of their character, focus, and resilience. He noted that winning away requires managing opponent runs and crowd energy, areas where the team has maintained composure and secured victories.