Washington Wizards 2020 NBA Draft: Deni Avdija profile

Deni Avdija: Strengths

Deni Avdija is one of the most intriguing forward prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft.  Standing 6’9″, Avdija has ideal size for the position and shows a great understanding of the game for a 19-year-old. It helps to have parents that were both professional basketball players, I guess.

Avdija’s basketball IQ shines in transition. The Israeli star is a great rebounder and has the ball-handling ability to turn it up the court and lead the break in the open court. Once he’s out running, he becomes even more dangerous. Avdija is a willing and able passer, fine with dumping it to a teammate for an easy bucket. But he isn’t afraid to attack the basket himself, either, and finishes well through contact.

In the halfcourt, Avdija is just as effective. He attacks defenses in the post and is an efficient scorer from the field. During his MVP season with Tel Aviv, Avidja shot below 40 percent on two-point field goals in only two of the team’s 29 regular-season games.

To go along with an impressive, do-it-all skillset, Avdija possesses all the intangibles you want to see in a potential lottery pick. As a boy who played amongst men (quite literally), he’s shown the ability to accept a role and play it well. He doesn’t need to be the focal point to be effective. And his unselfish nature shines through his play. And if you’re looking to add a little Big Face Coffee energy to your team after Jimmy Butler’s Finals run, Avdija might have it. After Israel won the 2019 FIBA U20 championship,  Avdija was seen shooting free throws instead of celebrating the win.