After sixty games this NBA season, Deni Avdija says with confidence in an interview with Israel Hayom that "this is definitely the best season I have so far in the league." The improvement the Israeli Washington Wizards forward has shown is noticeable in the statistics, but mainly in the demeanor and confidence he exudes on the court.
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Just before he and his teammates enter the crucial stage of the season, and ahead of the weekend face-off against the Raptors, he talked in this exclusive interview about the on-the-job improvement, the respect he gets in the locker room, and also on the Israeli national team and the possibility it gets a foreign coach.
Q: Are you going to see yourself and the Wizards in the playoffs this season?
"I believe we can reach the playoffs. We will have to survive the play-in, which is not going to be easy. Losing to Chicago is not the end of the world because we have another 22 games. But we need to play well, and I believe in us; we have already proved that we can create a winning streak. We need to make sure that we don't get nervous and play as we know."
Q: On a personal level, are you getting closer to your peak?
"This has indeed been my best season in the NBA so far. I feel that I have matured; that I can rebound better after bad games and that I can better prepare myself for games, that I am more aggressive. I still have a lot more areas where I can improve, but I am happy with my progress. I feel that I am still far off from my peak, both in terms of capability and in terms of confidence. I am glad that I am on track; I do see progress."
Q: I heard you say that people give you more respect in the locker room this season.
"They give me more respect, they listen to me more in defense and offense. When you are a rookie it's different; when I was a rookie people would not really listen to what I had to say. I feel that I have more leverage today on the staff, my input is considered and that feels great."
Q: In this league, where numbers have such great importance, have you ever felt that you have been dragged into forced throws?
"I have never had to truly force throws. I always try to do the right move; perhaps I need to be more aggressive. This is my style; to share the ball and help other players. When I do this I feel that I create positive momentum for the team.
"As for other players who force throws, that's just part of the league. The NBA has a clear hierarchy, and I try to be solid and aggressive; I don't want to reach those places where I force throws."
After taking part in the disappointing Eurobasket campaign with the Israeli national team in the summer – despite excelling on a personal level during the tournament – Avdija saw his fellow players on the Israeli squad play in the World Cup qualifiers this week.
Q: It's a weird feeling to watch them from afar, no?
"It's not weird; it's fun to see this. It's weird that I am not there, but I was glad to see Noam Yaacov playing so well. It's fun to see that we have a future."
Q: Can he reach the NBA?
"I never rule out the possibility that a player makes it to the NBA. He needs to work hard and go along a long path; he is very talented. I wish him success in reaching the world's best league and that he continues this trajectory of working hard; he has a great future in store for him."
Q: What's your opinion on having a foreign coach for Israel's national team? There have been efforts to bring Pablo Laso.
"I don't really know the coaches that are being considered and their style. I think the best thing is that the coach is connected to the players and that they want to play under his leadership. That there will be equality and hierarchy; that the players are happy."
Q: Would you like to play under Ariel Beit-Halahmy again?
"I had two European championships with him, so obviously there is a bond with him that is unique. I experienced good things with him, as well as not-so-good things; I really like him. I really like his style. Some part of me really wants him, the crucial thing is that the team benefits."
Watch the Washington Wizards take on the Toronto Raptors live on Sport5 and NBA League Pass on Saturday, March 4th at 00:00pm (midnight) as part of the NBA's 'NBA Sundays presented by NBA2K23' Primetime initiative.
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