1. Deni Avdija is an Israeli professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association.
40 Facts About Deni Avdija
1. 2.
Deni Avdija plays the small forward position, and is nicknamed "Turbo" for his fast-paced drive and aggressive playing style.
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Deni Avdija debuted for their senior team in 2017, at age 16, becoming the youngest player in club history.
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In 2020, Deni Avdija declared for the NBA draft and was drafted by the Washington Wizards with the 9th overall pick.
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Deni Avdija is a member of the Israeli senior national basketball team.
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Deni Avdija has won two gold medals for Israel at the youth level, including at the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship, where he was named tournament's most valuable player.
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Deni Avdija's mother, Sharon Artzi, is an Israeli Jew and former track and field and basketball player.
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From 2017 to 2019, Deni Avdija led Maccabi Tel Aviv to three consecutive Israeli youth state championships.
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Deni Avdija initially competed at the youth level for Bnei Herzliya, and in January 2019, Deni Avdija played for Maccabi Tel Aviv's U18 team at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament in Munich.
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Deni Avdija was selected to the all-tournament team after leading the event with 24.3 points, 6 assists, and 3.8 steals per game and a Performance Index Rating of 31.5.
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Deni Avdija ranked second among all players with 11 rebounds per game, while helping his team finish in second place.
12.
In February 2019, at the NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina, Deni Avdija was named MVP of the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp.
13.
Deni Avdija collected all-tournament team honours after leading the event with 24.7 points and 12 rebounds per game with a PIR of 29.7, while ranking second with 6.7 assists per game.
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On 5 November 2017, Deni Avdija started his professional career with Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, signing a six-year deal with the club.
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Deni Avdija scored two points in three minutes of playing time.
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On 16 April, Deni Avdija declared for the 2020 NBA draft.
17.
Deni Avdija's season was suspended for about three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Deni Avdija became the youngest player to ever win the Israeli League MVP award.
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Deni Avdija was named Israeli League Israeli Player of the Year and was an All-Israeli League First Team selection.
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Deni Avdija finished the season averaging 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.
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Deni Avdija was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards.
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Deni Avdija was projected as a consensus top 5 pick on draft night but slipped.
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Deni Avdija signed a rookie contract with the Wizards on 1 December 2020.
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On 6 July 2024, Deni Avdija was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Bub Carrington, Malcolm Brogdon, and several draft selections.
25.
On March 2,2025, Deni Avdija recorded his first triple-double against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
26.
Deni Avdija recorded his second triple-double on April 2,2025, in a game against the Atlanta Hawks, scoring 32 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, in 38 minutes of playing time.
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Deni Avdija competed for Israel at the 2017 FIBA U16 European Championship in Podgorica.
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Deni Avdija led the tournament with 12.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, to go with 15.3 points per game.
29.
Deni Avdija averaged 12.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game, while earning a spot on the all-tournament team with teammate Yovel Zoosman.
30.
Later that month, Deni Avdija competed at the FIBA U18 European Championship Division B in Skopje.
31.
In July 2019, Deni Avdija led Israel to a second straight gold medal at the FIBA U20 European Championship in Tel Aviv.
32.
Deni Avdija averaged 18.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.4 blocks, and 2.1 steals per game, earning MVP and all-tournament team accolades, as the second-youngest player at the event.
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Deni Avdija tallied 26 points, 11 rebounds and 5 steals against France in the semifinal, before recording 23 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks against Spain in the final.
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Deni Avdija's father Zufer Avdija was born in Pristina, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia.
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Deni Avdija represented the Yugoslavian national team internationally, with whom he won the bronze medal at the 1982 FIBA World Championship.
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Deni Avdija's mother, Sharon Artzi, an Israeli Jew from kibbutz Beit Zera, is a former track and field athlete and basketball player.
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Deni Avdija is Jewish, and sat out his first preseason game with the Trail Blazers in 2024 to observe the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.
38.
Deni Avdija holds dual citizenship of Israel and Serbia, the latter because his father is a citizen.
39.
On 1 April 2020, while the basketball season was suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Deni Avdija was drafted into the IDF for a short service.
40.
Deni Avdija has said he learned to speak English by playing video games, as well as by watching Nickelodeon sitcoms.