Avdija added 12 assists and seven rebounds in 38 minutes and emerged as the dominant player on the court.
By Shula Rosen
Deni Avdija delivered a historic performance Wednesday, scoring 41 points and leading Portland to a 110-114 win over Phoenix to secure a playoff berth, marking the first time an Israeli player has reached the NBA playoffs as a central figure.
Avdija added 12 assists and seven rebounds in 38 minutes, taking control in the closing moments and emerging as the dominant player on the court.
His performance powered Portland through the play-in and into the postseason for the first time since 2021.
The Israeli forward drew widespread praise across the United States, where fans and analysts highlighted both his breakout game and rapid rise.
“Deni Avdija is a monster,” one reaction read, while others described him as “an incredible player” and “the best player no one is talking about.”
Critics also pointed to Washington’s earlier decision to trade him, noting: “Unbelievable that Washington traded him because he ‘didn’t fit their timeline’… at age 25.”
Avdija’s showing was widely described as one of the greatest single-game performances by an Israeli athlete, combining scoring, playmaking, and late-game execution under pressure.
He repeatedly delivered in key possessions, carrying Portland offensively and dictating the tempo down the stretch.
His path to this moment included years of development with Israel’s national teams, where he progressed from youth levels to the senior squad and helped lead the under-20 team to a European championship.
The performance also drew attention abroad, including in Serbia, where his father, Zufer, built his career.
Serbian media noted that Avdija had the option to represent their national team but chose Israel, the country where he was born and raised.
“It’s a great shame this kid doesn’t represent Serbia,” one outlet wrote, while quoting Avdija as saying: “I grew up in Israel… I chose Israel because that’s where I grew up.”
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