By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following a hard-fought battle at the Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, Deni Avdija reflected on the conclusion of a landmark 2025-26 season for both himself and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Despite a game-high 22-point performance from the 25-year-old forward, Portland fell to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5, bringing an end to their best-of-seven series in the opening round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google. Addressing the media during his postgame press conference, the Israeli star maintained a perspective of growth despite the sting of the loss.
“I don’t know if it was a lesson, but more an experience,” he explained. “I feel like this experience was needed for me, for the team as a group, to fight together and see how it is with the playoff physicality, playoff atmospheres. I had a lot of fun. We left it all on the court. I left it all on the court.”
The defeat serves as the final chapter of a season that saw Avdija evolve from a promising, versatile talent into a legitimate NBA powerhouse. Over the course of 66 regular-season appearances, he established himself as an elite offensive engine, nearly doubling his scoring average from the prior year to finish with 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. This breakout performance, bolstered by his emergence as one of the league’s premier foul-drawers, earned him his first career All-Star selection and cemented his role as the Trail Blazers’ primary hub. Transitioning into his first-ever NBA postseason, he maintained his aggressive play style against San Antonio, averaging 22.2 points and 6.0 rebounds across the five-game stretch.
For a young Portland roster, Avdija believes the intensity of the series provided a blueprint for the future. “I think just the experience for everybody in this series, from the young guys to the vets, it was a good run by us to understand what we are missing and what we need to do, to get better and go even further,” he said.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 1-3 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113, 88-94)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 2-2 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93)
3. New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 3-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98, 126-97)
4. Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-2 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96, 97-113)
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 4-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109, 131-122)
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 3-1 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115)
3. Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 2-3 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112, 125-113)
4. San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93, 114-95)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder – Winner 2
6. San Antonio Spurs – Winner 3
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions