Photo Credit: Getty Images
A front-runner for the Most Improved Player award, Deni Avdija is on a meteoric rise. But with the Portland Trail Blazers’ project still shrouded in uncertainty, one has to wonder if this breakout is actually working against the franchise.
The last truly successful era for the Portland Trail Blazers was, of course, the Damian Lillard era. For 11 years, the All-Star point guard carried the team’s hopes – first as a sidekick, then as the main man – highlighted by a run to the Conference Finals in 2019. But after that peak, the team gradually slipped down the pecking order, culminating in their star’s departure in 2023.
For just over two seasons now, the franchise has been in full rebuild mode. There’s a chance they’ll take their first real step forward this season, as the Blazers currently sit ninth in the West and are well positioned for a play-in spot. Still, it’s clear this team isn’t built to compete with the conference’s elite.
Rebuilding takes time. But Portland has a major asset: Deni Avdija. The Israeli forward is having a breakout season, to the point where he already seems to have one hand on the Most Improved Player trophy. The only issue is that, while he’s playing at an extraordinary level, his timeline doesn’t seem to match up with the franchise’s plans. When Portland acquired the Israeli forward – the 9th pick in the 2020 draft – from the Washington Wizards in the 2024 offseason, giving up a future first-round pick (which would become Carlton “Bub” Carrington) and former 6th Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon in the process, many questioned the logic for both teams. Especially for the Blazers, who had just re-signed Jerami Grant and were focused on developing Shaedon Sharpe (which is now happening).
There were concerns about a logjam, but the Israeli forward delivered a solid first season in Oregon, building on the progress he’d shown in his final year in Washington. Not a leader, but a good all-around basketball player—still a bit raw, but able to contribute as a starter. No one seemed ready for what came next. This season, Deni Avdija is putting up eye-popping numbers: after averaging 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, he’s now at 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists! And that’s with just 5.4 more minutes per game, shooting percentages holding steady, and for the first time in his career, a positive net rating (0.6). He’s the clear favorite for MIP.
The immediate impact for his team: right now, Portland – coming off four straight losing seasons – is at .500 (22-22). Avdija has become the face of the franchise, carrying the team and often scoring over 30 points in a game, including a recent 41-point outburst against the Rockets. But is that enough for the Blazers to take the next step?
