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PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania – Die-hard Israeli fans who sat awake in front of their televisions in the early hours of last night watched some glorious basketball as local basketball player Deni Avdija made his NBA debut with the Washington Wizards against the Philadelphia 76ers in the city. of Brotherly Love.
“My first NBA game was great,” Avdija told The Times of Israel after the game. “I’m a little frustrated that I lost, but for me to be there and play for my team is a dream come true. I have no words to explain it. I worked hard for this and prepared for this moment and now I have.”
The Sabras who managed to stay awake for the occasion, which didn’t start until 2:00 a.m. Jerusalem time, and Avdija said she hoped many people at home would do exactly that, had an idea of what might eventually happen. for him, as the pride of Herzliya, the highest Israeli draft pick in NBA history at number nine, get the initial go-ahead. He would make his only two shots, both triples, while scoring seven points in 28 minutes for the Washington Wizards in their 113-107 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
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Israel-born Deni Avdija protects Ben Simmons in his opening game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia on December 23, 2020 (Jon Marks for The Times of Israel).
Advija had four rebounds, provided an assist and stole a steal during a night in which his defensive assignments ranged from 6’7 “(200 cm) to Philadelphia small forward Tobias Harris, 6’10” (208 cm) on base. . Ben Simmons, 7’1 ″ (216 cm) to the center of Joel Embiid.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions in the US, Avdija made its debut in a virtually empty arena. The team employees got tired of making as much noise as possible to simulate a crowd, but aside from a handful of media scattered throughout the building, no one was allowed in. That will also be the case when he plays his first home game on Saturday against the Orlando Magic.
While the 205cm (6’9 ″) Avdija insisted there was no nerves to get to the moment, his coach seemed skeptical.
“I asked him and he said no,” said Scott Brooks, who as a player also made his NBA debut in Philadelphia in 1988. “But I know that deep down there are some butterflies.”
“That’s good,” Brooks told The Times of Israel. “The guys who don’t have butterflies are probably the guys who just follow the motions because they’re so talented. But he cares. He is passionate. ”
“I thought he played well,” Brooks said. “We are going to have to learn what he can do better as the season progresses and he has to learn what we do. But he makes winning basketball plays and right now that’s all that matters to me. You make winning plays and the game will reward you, and he makes winning plays. ”
In fact, the most telling stat of the night showed that during Avdija’s time on the court, the Wizards outscored the 76ers by 14 points. That was four points better than any of his teammates.
Israel-born Deni Avdija protects Tobias Harris in his opening game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia on December 23, 2020 (Jon Marks for The Times of Israel).
As for shooting, it will come in time.
“I fired when I got the chance and it was wide open,” said Avdija, who drained his first shot from the 4:53 corner in the game but didn’t pull the trigger again until the third quarter, giving the Wizards a 66 -58 lead. . He also went 1-for-2 at the free throw line. “It’s my first game and everyone is excited, but I’m not forcing anything.”
“I will be patient,” he said. “Hopefully throughout the season I’m going to improve and maybe make more shots sometimes.”
Well, Jerusalem wasn’t built in a day and neither will Avdija’s run. While the offense may take some time, especially on a team like the Wizards, where star guards Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal control the ball, each making 22 shots in this game, Avdija’s other abilities are what earned him the starting position.
“I enjoy passing; it’s part of my game, ”said Avdija, whose only assist came when he threw a rebound pass behind his back to a Beal on a roll for a dunk. “I trust my teammates and if I can make plays for them, I will.”
“If someone is open, I will hit him,” he said. And since I got to the top level of Maccabi [Tel Aviv], my coach was very hard on me playing defense. If he didn’t do that, he wasn’t going to play. So I mean team defense. “
Deni Avdija of Maccabi Tel Aviv controls the ball during the Euro League basketball game between Olimpia Milan and Maccabi Fox Tel Aviv in Milan, Italy, on November 19, 2019 (AP Photo / Antonio Calanni).
Speaking of Maccabi, Avdija’s Washington-based agent Doug Neustadt says the experience in Israeli professionals will pay off now that he has arrived in the NBA.
“Being professional with Maccabi has really benefited him,” said Neustadt, who also represented international players like Boris Diaw, Dragan Bender and Sarunas Jasikevičius when they entered the NBA. “It really helps that he played with professional teammates and against professionals, as opposed to the college route.”
“I think the physique, the intensity, the pressure of playing for Maccabi has helped him prepare,” Neustadt told The Times of Israel. “And so has been talking to professionals like Amare Stoudemire, Quincy Acy and Omri Casspi for a whole year, not just about basketball, but about America.”
But while you may be living in the United States, make no mistake: Avdija’s heart remains at home.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer, left, meets with Israeli Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija on December 11, 2020 (Courtesy of WashingtonWizards.com).
“I’m glad I came from Israel and that the whole nation is behind me and wants the best for me,” said Avdija, who found that living in a foreign country during a pandemic has made adjustment even more difficult. “It’s fun to play when you have a whole country behind your back. Cheer my heart. What can be better for a basketball player than to have that support? It gives you motivation and forces you to work hard. “
I’m glad to come from Israel and that the entire nation supports me and wants the best for me.
“I love our country and I love our fans, and I love that people support me and really care about what I’m doing. I’m going to represent the best that I can and do my best, ”Avdija said. “But people also need to be patient, and I need to be patient. Not everything will come in one day. I’m not going to score 40 in one day. It is a process. But I hope everyone enjoys the experience like me. “
Even if it means that some Israelis might not be sleeping much.
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