By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The sophomore NBA season has landed Deni Avdija in a reserve role at the Washington Wizards. Multiple challenges include responding during on-court battles by outplaying his opponents, he explained in a recent press conference.
“Trash talk, it comes on probably the first play, but after that first stop or me defending, it slows down. Be sure about that,” he said regarding attempts to slow him down by any means necessary, “If somebody wants to talk trash to me, that’s fine. I don’t talk back, I show it on the court. My trash talking vocabulary ain’t that good too.”
Avdija, 20, was selected with the 9th overall pick of the 2020 NBA draft. He previously made his pro debut at Maccabi Tel Aviv earning a major playing role through the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, banking in the experience of 37 appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Europe’s premier continental club competition, and arguably an excellent environment to master defensive abilities, especially under Greek tactician Giannis Sfairopoulos.
After introducing himself to the NBA with 6.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per contest in his rookie season over 54 appearances, including 32 starts, he has put up 5.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game coming off the bench in 2021-22. In addition, he has improved from 0.3 to 1.0 blocks per match solidifying his effort on the defensive end.
“I think I was a good defender even last year, but last year I didn’t get the most respect,” he pointed out, “I’m not the most athletic. You see people bring me in pick-and-roll all the time. They think they can attack me, they think they can score on me, and it’s fun.”
“I’m taking it as a challenge,” he added, “It’s fun to see them thinking like ‘oh yeah, there he goes, slow feet, tall guy, I’m quicker than him.’ But it’s not all about that. I’m playing with my heart and I’m doing everything I can to play 100 percent every play on the court. I’m slowly building my reputation as a defender.”
The latest assignment was being the main defender on Giannis Antetokounmpo, an impossible task of actually containing the Greek Freak. The 2021 NBA Finals MVP scored 29 points Sunday night, but the Washington Wizards prevailed to improve to 7-3, early in the 2021-22 NBA Regular Season. “Whether it’s Giannis or Memphis the other night or whatever team comes to the arena, I’m just trying to lock up,” he said.
On the offensive end, the right ankle fracture suffered in the bottom end of the 2020-21 Regular Season has apparently slowed down the Israeli forward. He was limited to three points in the win opposite the defending champions but plenty of time to regroup at his very young age.
Coming up for the Wizards, a two-game road trip from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday to the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
Photo Credit: Getty Images