For everything Deni Avdija accomplished this season for the Portland Trail Blazers — the seventh seed in the Western Conference, a five-game playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, his most productive year as a pro — the 25-year-old left his end-of-season exit interview describing the campaign as something more elemental.
"I felt like it was kind of my rookie year, because I never been in this position, in this situation before," Avdija said. "Never been in the playoffs. Never really had the chance to be one of the leaders of a team. I'm human and I wasn't great at it all the time. I want to be better at it."
Avdija arrived in Portland last summer following a trade from Washington, joining a young roster that finished outside the play-in last season. The 2025-26 Blazers were not expected to make the playoffs, and were not expected to push the No. 2 seed to a competitive series when they got there.
"Nobody really expected us being the seventh seed," Avdija said. "We managed to do that with a lot of fight, a lot of resilience — a lot of just going out there every night and just give it all. After we lost to San Antonio in the series, none of us felt that we did not leave anything out there. We gave it all. We did the best we could."
Avdija's personal numbers grew alongside the team's expectations. With Portland missing a true point guard for stretches in November and December, head coach Tiago Splitter handed him the keys to the offense as a primary ball-handler — a return, Avdija said, to the way he played as a junior in Israel.
"I came back to kind of my roots and how I started playing basketball, which is kind of initiate and being aggressive going downhill," he said. "For me the experience of having this opportunity was great. I needed that for my game, to see what I can do and to unlock my potential. At the end of the day, my job was make sure that I get everybody involved."
A back injury threatened to derail the run, but Avdija played through it.
"It was frustrating because it was lingering. With this type of injury, you got to make a decision," he said. "I knew the team needed me. I wanted to be there and I just do what I can to play with it and to be as effective as I can be. Everything happens for good. I feel like there's a reason for everything. Maybe I needed a little bit of a break."
He also tipped his cap to Splitter, the former Spurs big who took over after Chauncey Billups stepped away from the bench mid-season.
"I think Tiago did a great job. He got thrown in not an easy situation and I think he got the best of all of us. He believed in all of us," Avdija said. "He did a great job of connecting this group, of making sure we're always positive. I definitely love Tiago. I love playing for him."
The biggest variable in Portland's offseason is Damian Lillard, who sat out all season after returning from Milwaukee. Avdija and Lillard, separated by ten years and a continent in basketball backgrounds, have spent the year talking about what comes next.
"Me and Dame had conversations throughout the year," Avdija said. "Dame is a great player and he has a lot of things we need. As a leader, as a person, he's a great guy and fun to be around. He's a competitor, and I think we both have mutual goals. We both love each other's game and I think we really can do great things together."
Asked what he wants from next season, Avdija set the bar plainly. "I just like to see the progress. We get better every season. Last year we didn't make the playoffs. This year we had more wins, we made the playoffs. Next year I hope to create some and get some damage in the playoffs and go even further. RIP City is in good hands."
