Deni Avdija made his NBA debut on Wednesday night with the Washington Wizards in a 113-107 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Putting aside the defeat, the Israeli sensation scored 7 points going 2/2 from 3-point land while collecting 4 rebounds in 28 minutes of action with Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal by his side.

The morning after the game, Avdija some to the Israeli media in Hebrew about his debut and a myriad of other topics from Coach Scott Brooks to Coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos, Russell Westbrook and acclimating to life in the NBA.

“It was very exciting and it wasn’t simple. All of the preparation with Maccabi Tel Aviv and then in Atlanta helped take me to this point. It was really exciting.”

DENI AVDIJA FIRST NBA BUCKET 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/6dgvgeo5dh

— Sports Rabbi (@thesportsrabbi) December 24, 2020

Despite getting few touches and only taking two shots both from distance, the 19-year old hit them both, “This was my first official game so it was different than in preseason. But I’ve been working on my shooting and it’s going to always change and get better. I always want to continue to develop but I want to do what I can to help the team. I want be solid and stable in my play.”

Avdija took a hard foul from Dwight Howard in the second half, but that’s just part of the game he explained, “He tried to go into me pretty hard. But I’m mentally strong, so I took Howard’s foul and we got the ball back. And no, he didn’t apologize either.”

With only a couple of weeks in training camp and just three preseason games in which Russell Westbrook played in only part of one half of a single game despite checking in with a triple-double in his own debut, the Israeli sensation said it will just take time to jell as a team on the court, “It was just my first game at the end of the day. Things will come together as we play more together. With time I’ll gain more experience and all of the players around me want me to succeed.”

Despite arriving late in the John Wall trade, Avdija and Westbrook are developing quite the unique rapport, “We have a great relationship. Russell is great and he’s really trying to help me and guide me both on and off of the court. He’s great to play with on the court and his mental side of the game is really amazing we are very similar in that light.”

Avdija also reflected back on his first few days with the Wizards, “We had an interesting preseason and it wasn’t easy as I was thrown right into the fire. But I’m enjoying playing with my teammates and we have a lot of good things that we will do well this season. But we are a new team with Russell Westbrook as well. I always have my feet on the ground no matter how I’ll do. But I feel good with my teammates and a great organization around me to help me integrate and acclimate to playing in the NBA.”

One of the challenges for Avdija will also be settling into a new home, “As a 19 year old in a new place I have to give credit to everyone who is helping me with my everyday tasks. From Matan Siman Tov to Veljko Perovic who helps me with my shooting and video. They all allow me to focus on just basketball.”

The goal for the Wizards is to reach the playoffs without a doubt, “We want to succeed but there isn’t any pressure and I believe since we are a new team we are still jelling together.”

The key for the phenom in his adjustment to the NBA was his time with Maccabi Tel Aviv from the age of 16, “I was in the Maccabi Tel Aviv system for three years before I really became a regular player. It took me those three years to become a rotation player. It’s true that I am more prepared because I had that experience. It’s not easy to play in this type of environment at this age, but I know that I am very mentally strong and I have a ton of patience to continue to improve.”

Coach Scott Brooks is definitely a very different bench boss that Avdija was used to at Maccabi in Coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos with the former building off of what the latter had taught him with the Yellow & Blue, “Coach Brooks has given me plenty of challenges since I arrived. He is there for me, he wants me to improve and he really cares about me. I’m always improving and the challenges he is giving me are great. As for Coach Sfairopoulos, he showed me how to work hard, be tough and not to be afraid of anyone on the court. He showed me how to play tough defense, how to read defenses, understand how to read the plays and rotations. He really helped me a tremendous amount.”

As for his final thoughts on his first game and if he could have done more to impact the contest, Avdija was certain that he could, but of course that’s going to take some time as he learns the ways of the NBA, “Of course I want to take more on myself, every player wants to take more upon themselves but yesterday I did what I could to help the team. I played tough defense and you have to remember this was my first game. As time goes by I’m sure I’ll have more and more responsibility.”