Future Watch: Deni Avdija Basketball Cards, Washington Wizards – Deni Avdija certainly benefited in the 2020 pre-draft period from the rapid sensational emergence of Luka Doncic. After well over a decade of high-level European disappointments in the NBA, Doncic slipped to 3rd in the 2018 NBA Draft simply because personnel executives didn’t know how much to value his dominance of the EuroLeague in his teens. Post-Doncic, international stars like Avdija are being accorded more respect for their potential.
And Doncic was a common point of reference in Avdija’s pre-draft reviews, albeit being portrayed as a slightly poor-man’s version – which could still lead to the Beit Zera native becoming an All-Star. Avdija’s court vision is outstanding, which should lead to more of the offense running through him over time. His hustle can impact the game in some of the grittier areas, even as he improves his on-ball defense.
As with many players coming into the NBA, he has to bulk up, but has to be careful not to sacrifice any of his athleticism, as that is not his strongest point. Coaching will be of the utmost importance in his development, as he has to improve the consistency of his shooting and must increase his array of moves to create offense. Fortunately, nobody is providing stiff competition for playing time at small forward in Washington.
Of his earliest games, the one that really stood out was on New Year’s Day when his 11 points – which included three treys – seven rebounds, three assists and three steals showcased his all-around potential against Minnesota. Here’s Avdija’s highlight reel from that game:
Comparisons can be beneficial as well as burdensome, so being the first international player with similar abilities to be a high pick after Doncic carries pluses and minuses, but continued development of his versatile game will lead to Avdija being appreciated in his own right.
As collectors await the first full-fledged NBA cards of this year’s rookie crop, Deni Avdija fans can pick up prospect cards such as those found in Prizm Draft Picks and Contender Draft Picks.
Future Watch: Deni Avdija Basketball Cards, Washington Wizards – Stats
| Season | Age | Tm | Lg | Pos | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | 2P | 2PA | 2P% | eFG% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 20 | WAS | NBA | SF | 11 | 11 | 23.2 | 2.5 | 5.6 | .452 | 1.5 | 3.2 | .457 | 1.1 | 2.5 | .444 | .581 | 0.5 | 0.7 | .625 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 7.0 |
| Career | NBA | 11 | 11 | 23.2 | 2.5 | 5.6 | .452 | 1.5 | 3.2 | .457 | 1.1 | 2.5 | .444 | .581 | 0.5 | 0.7 | .625 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 7.0 |
Future Watch: Deni Avdija Basketball Cards, Washington Wizards – Other Resources
- Deni Avdija NBA.com Player Profile
- Deni Avdija– Secondary Market Pricing
- Beckett Card Catalog – Deni Avdija Basketball Cards
Future Watch: Deni Avdija Basketball Cards, Washington Wizards– Image Gallery
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