By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Charles Barkley never holds back when he sees a player truly turn the corner, and during a broadcast of Inside the NBA, he found his new favorite subject in Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija.
As the crew analyzed the Blazers’ best-of-seven series against the San Antonio Spurs in the opening round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, Barkley drew a striking parallel between the Israeli star and the late Hall of Famer Drazen Petrovic.
“Drazen Petrovic is one of the best players I’ve ever seen from an offensive, aggressive standpoint,” he noted, emphasizing the specific mental shift he sees in Avdija’s game. “Let me tell you something, he wants to score every single time. He’s going straight, he ain’t deviating off that line, and he ain’t going around you, he ain’t going left. He’s like, ‘Hey, I’m going right to the basket.’”
This comparison highlights a remarkable evolution for the former Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv player in the EuroLeague, who spent four NBA seasons in Washington before finding his footing as a legitimate superstar in Portland.
After averaging 24.2 points during a 2025-26 Regular Season that saw him become the first Israeli player ever named an NBA All-Star, Avdija has maintained that intensity in the postseason. Through four playoff games, he has tallied 22.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.
However, the Blazers currently trail the Spurs 3-1, following a tough loss at the Moda Center on Sunday. His side faces a must-win game this Tuesday at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 1-2 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 2-2 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93)
3. New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 2-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98)
4. Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-1 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Winners 1-2
6. Winners 3-4
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 3-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109)
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 3-1 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115)
3. Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-3 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112)
4. San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 3-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Winners 1-2
6. Winners 3-4
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions