Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers star and currently Israel’s lone representative in the NBA, returned back home to the Holy Land after arguably his best season in the “World’s Greatest League”. The 6”9 forward completed his 5th year in the NBA and his first in Oregon after having played his first four campaigns with the Washington Wizards, the team who drafted him 9th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Avdija averaged 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists as he helped his new team to 36 wins and 12th place in the Western Conference while also recording his first triple-double in a game against Cleveland. In addition, Avdija had some memorable games including against the Golden State Warriors where he scored 36 points as well as another game versus the New York Knicks where he scored 33 points.

Upon arriving back in Israel, Avdija will now turn his sights on the upcoming 2025 Eurobasket tournament that gets underway in August while also getting a bit of rest and relaxation after the taxing NB season.

After landing at Ben Gurion Airport, the 24-year old spoke to the assembled media about his breakout season in the NBA, the upcoming European Championships, what his goals are ahead and of course coming back to his native country.

“Returning to Israel is always fun and exciting. I haven’t been here for a long time and there is a good atmosphere in the air. It’s hard to digest that the season is over and I’m in Israel. It’s always fun to be here. I feel good, I worked very hard and now that I am back just like every summer I get up early and put in hard work. I’m always trying to give my best and after seeing the progress that I made during the season it makes me want to improve even more. I’m glad that I am continuing to improve.”

Avdija continued about adjusting to his new team, “The time that I had already spent in the league, the confidence that I had and my teammates helped. It was hard to adjust at first, but I kept playing well and working hard, that’s what I did. Head Coach Chauncey Billups and I developed an amazing relationship, he is very competitive really at the highest of levels – he wants to win, I want to win so there’s a good connection there. I’m glad I had the best season of my career under him and I want to continue this upward trend. I overcame the initial hurdle in Portland and that helped me a lot with my confidence. I didn’t start out that well, but I got over it. I kept working hard.”

The Eurobasket is coming up and playing for the Israel National Team is extremely important for Avdija, “The summer is very important and I’m excited to play with the national team, that’s the most important thing that there is. I want to get to Poland and achieve something as we’re a talented and a young team that can do a lot of good things. I’ve matured, I understood from the first campaign what needs to be done better and how to connect with everyone better as well. There are talented guys and a coach in Ariel Beit Halachmi with whom I won two European Championships with in the past. The team has already had some nice victories over the past year and I think that we have some good players and players who are known throughout Europe.”

Avdija shared some of his dreams and goals going forward as well as putting in the good word concerning the next Israeli who will join him in the NBA, “I think being an All-Star is a goal that I can reach. I also believe that Ben Saraf will join me in the NBA, he’s very talented, a magician and I wish him the best. I wish him success and that he gets to the league and conquers it.”

“As for the Trail Blazers and the future, we are very young and there are a lot of weapons and talented players,” Avdija continued. “We faced some teams that I didn’t think we would be able to stand toe-to-toe with them but I was proven otherwise and I am very optimistic about our future. I really hope we make the playoffs and that I will be the first Israeli in the playoffs – Omri Casspi was injured and wasn’t able to participate in them so that it was I am aiming for. As for potentially being the Most Improved Player, I am happy that people have recognized me and noticed the hard work that I have put in I will always play hard and that will not change and I always want to do the rights things in order to help my team and to be there for my teammates.”