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How Deni Avdija Turned Early NBA Struggles into a Breakthrough
How 2 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
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First reported by N12 · Jun 22, 2026
What happened
Micha Lutzky’s new book uses Deni Avdija’s early NBA struggles with the Washington Wizards as a case study in starting over. It says his injuries, criticism, and limited role led to hard work, improvement, and a $55 million contract, the biggest in Israeli sports history.
- 01Avdija’s first NBA season was derailed by injury and criticism.
- 02He adjusted to a supporting role behind Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal.
- 03He responded by training harder and improving his game.
- 04His progress led to a $55 million deal, a record in Israeli sports.
- 05Lutzky’s book argues that starting is the key human skill in the AI era.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
In this story
People
Full coverage · 2 outlets
The same event, reported separately by each newsroom. Open a few to compare what each emphasizes — and what they leave out.
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