Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija has made a significant impact this season, garnering attention in the NBA All-Star fan voting released on Thursday. Avdija placed seventh in the Western Conference balloting, receiving 1,224,109 votes, which puts him just ahead of Los Angeles Lakers legend LeBron James, who has 1,059,855 votes, and behind Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards with 1,246,423 votes. Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers led the voting with a commanding 2,229,811 votes from fans.
This season has marked a breakout year for Avdija, who is averaging 25.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game, all while shooting an impressive 46.8% from the field. His performance has been crucial for the Blazers as the team navigates through a challenging season riddled with injuries, having missed a combined 199 games from 11 different players. Despite these setbacks, Avdija has shown his resilience, leading his team in several key categories: scoring, assists, and free throws, while also being second in rebounds and three-pointers.
In absence of a natural point guard due to injuries, Avdija has taken on the role of primary ballhandler and playmaker. He has reached double digits in assists nine times and notched up three triple-doubles this season. Acknowledging his growing visibility within the league, Avdija stated, “I appreciate the fans. Crazy. I saw that I was seventh on the votes… But it’s not in my control. I can only play and be focused on winning.”
Earlier this week, Avdija was also recognized as the Western Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career, underlining his rising stature in the league. Fan voting for the All-Star game concludes on January 14, with the starters announced on January 19. The game this year will introduce an exciting new three-team, round-robin format featuring both U.S. and international players.
As the All-Star game approaches, Avdija’s commendable performance amidst adversity offers hope for both him and the Trail Blazers, drawing attention to his potential as a future star in the NBA.