On July 6th, 2024, when the Portland Trail Blazers announced they had acquired forward Deni Avdija for two first-round picks, two future second-round picks, and guard Malcolm Brogdon from the Washington Wizards, the reception was mixed– but the consensus was that it was the rare win-win for two rebuilding clubs.
Washington did right by a young, talented player who wasn’t in their plans while getting more assets in their pursuit of that ever-elusive franchise star, while Portland, in the wake of the Damian Lillard trade, was looking to sell high on a veteran while acquiring a promising prospect in a historic position of need. And while General Manager Joe Cronin, Assistant General Manager Mike Schmitz, and the rest of Portland’s front office expected big things from the former ninth overall pick and Israeli League MVP, no one expected them to happen overnight.
But they didn’t have to wait long. Over 13 games in March, the 24-year-old swingman delivered All-Star numbers, averaging 23.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 51% from the field, 46% from three, and 81% from the line. Over the last seven games, Avdija has turned it up a notch, averaging 27.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 6.0 assists with 52%/45%/80% splits and a true shooting percentage(an advanced metric that evaluates efficiency considering all shot types) of 66%, ranked 18th in the league amongst small forwards.
These eye-popping numbers, and the Blazers’ improved play since the calendar’s flipped, have turned heads around the league and given Rip City another potential cornerstone, alongside Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan. What’s led to this jump?
Embracing Physicality
At 6’9’ and 240 pounds, “Turbo” has been using his blend of size and speed to get downhill more often and put pressure on the rim. He currently leads the team with 3.9 free throw attempts per game, up from 2.7 in 2024. His aggressive play style has been fruitful–in March, his 88 free throws drawn ranked third among small forwards, just behind former All-Stars Jimmy Butler III and DeMar DeRozan.
But he’s far from a ”free-throw merchant”– over the last 15 games, Avdija is third in the Association in Drives, averaging 15.4 per game while shooting 63% from inside the restricted area, ahead of juggernauts like Zion Williamson and LeBron James. His ability to consistently get into the lane and initiate contact has been a game-changer for the Blazers, especially in late-game situations.
On the other side of the ball, Avdija’s been committed to gaining extra possessions for his team. He’s averaging a little more than 10 rebounds a game over his last 10, with a high of 16(in a heartbreaker against the New York Knicks on March 12th). For a team that’s badly struggling with size and rim protection in the wake of DeAndre Ayton and Robert Williams’ prolonged absences, his toughness and effort on the boards have been a revelation and key piece in the Blazers’ improvement in the win column.
Improved Shooting Touch
Coming into the draft, media and scouts had questions about Avdija’s shooting–and with a career three-point percentage of 33.8%(the league average is 35%), it seemed like he was who he was: a sometimes-3-and-D player. But surprisingly, the most marked improvement in his offensive profile has been from beyond the arc: Since the All-Star Break, Avdija is shooting 43% on 5.7 attempts per game. Over his last 10, he’s hit 2 or more threes. For a team ranked 25th in the league in three-point percentage, his perimeter shotmaking has kept the Blazers competing for a Play-In spot.
Opponents now must respect his increased range, opening up driving lanes and creating more opportunities for his teammates. And while not known as a knockdown shooter from the charity stripe(sitting with a career 77%), he’s been making them when they matter most: he was tied for first in March for free throw percentage in the clutch(defined as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter when the score is within five points).
Expanded Role
With the lack of a third playmaker after Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson, Chauncey Billups and the rest of the coaching staff have entrusted Avdija with more responsibility in orchestrating the offense. Drawing comparisons to Josh Giddey, another big-bodied “point forward”(who’s recently taken off in Chicago), his ability to drive and distribute has been on full display, culminating in a 32-point, 15-rebound, and 10-assist victory against the Atlanta Hawks on April 1st. His frenetic pace of play, both in the halfcourt and transition, has been an ideal fit for the “Baby” Blazers, who have been attempting to become more uptempo for the last few seasons.
With every passing game, Deni Avdija is proving he’s more than just potential–he’s a rising, versatile star with a phenomenal contract. For the Rip City faithful and fans of the sport, his late-season breakout will be fun to follow as the regular season winds down. Could this be the beginning of something bigger for the man known as “Turbo”? Time will tell, but one thing is for sure: he’s locked in, and the league better take notice.
