Portland Trailblazers forward Deni Avdija and Israel may have gotten their hearts broken in EuroBasket 2025 after getting eliminated by Greece and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Round of 16 but he will come out there with better perspective.
Avdija played the role expected of him in that game as his team’s best player. He finished the night with 22 points and 3 rebounds. However, he and his teammates did not have enough to stop the Greek Freak who recorded 37 points with 10 rebounds, and one assists while shooting around 80 percent on the field.
Battling the best of the worlds is a great experience for the 24-year-old power forward. That’s his best takeaway despite the loss.
What makes it more interesting for him is the advice he got from the Milwaukee Bucks superstar after the game.
“He gave me really nice compliments, it was touching, especially from a player who is working really, really hard, who has a very good reputation in the league; to such compliments from him,” he told reporters after the losst.
“I won’t get into details about what he had said, but it was absolutely touching.”
Deni Avdija returning to Portland with greater hopes
With his national duty done, Avdija is returning to Portland with greater hopes after exposure to a high level battle. Aside from Giannis, he also went at it with Los Angeles Lakers and Slovenia star Luka Doncic who currently leads the league in scoring and assists.
He played against veterans in EuroBasket and when goes back to Portland, it is more learning moment for him as he will now play with the best of the best with their acquisition of Jrue Holiday and franchise legend Damian Lillard.
Avdija hopes to have a good relationship with the team great.
“He had a lot of responsibility, he led the team for years, endured difficult times with the club,” Avdija said.
“He dealt with all the pressure, so I hope he will give me the tools.”
Lillard will not play a game this coming new season as he is still recovering from ACL injury but head coach Chauncey Billups said he will be his assistant. That’s a lot of opportunities for the Israeli player to pick his mind.
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