Portland assistant praises Deni Avdija after breakout season

Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach James Posey, who also worked with Deni Avdija during his time in Washington, praised the Israeli forward after what he called the best season of his career. The article says Avdija led Portland to the playoffs and also earned an All-Star selection, both milestones for an Israeli basketball player.

Posey said Avdija’s strong play “put him in a new spotlight” and that, after watching him over the years, he could see him deliver his skills “night after night” until “he became an All-Star.” He credited Avdija’s rise to hard work and persistence, adding, “All the credit goes to him.”

Posey also described Portland’s broader team culture, saying the organization pushed players to take responsibility and work hard, with “no days off” and everyone coming to work. He singled out Avdija as a leader, saying he used to arrive early at the arena to shoot, work out, and prepare.

Posey concluded that the team was aligned throughout the organization and focused on doing what it needed to do to give itself a chance to win, believing that would get Portland where it needed to be by the end of the season.