Washington Wizards: Deni Avdija is already impressing on and off the court

The Washington Wizards seem to have found a gem in rookie Deni Avdija, and it’s most apparent in how he conducts himself off the court.

Through six games, Deni Avdija probably isn’t on the shortlist of Rookie of the Year candidates. He hasn’t had the highlights that Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, or  LaMelo Ball have. And he’s yet to put up a truly draw dropping box score.

Deni’s best game through the first six was vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Washington Wizards’ first win of the season. Avdija had 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 27 minutes. He also finished with a game-high plus/minus of +32. His performance warrants more trust, and hopefully more minutes.

However, Brook’s anemic lineup decisions can no longer be predicted. It seems like he’s literally picking players at random to sit. But if Avdija has proven anything through six games, it’s that he deserves to be on the floor, not riding the bench.

Just six games into the season, Deni Avdija is proving he belongs on the NBA stage.

Barely 20-years-old, many (myself included) wondered how easily — and quickly — Avdija could transition from overseas basketball to the NBA game. While his per-game averages aren’t leading any rookie lists, Avdija does all the little things well. Through six games, the Wizards’ net rating is 34.6 points better with Avdija on the floor, the best individual difference of Wizards with at least 50 minutes played.

Avdija makes the extra pass. He’s smart on defense. He pushes the pace. There’s no doubt that he’s ready for the NBA and it looks like the Wizards have their second consecutive first-round gem. Well done by GM Tommy Sheppard. Avdija and last year’s first-round selection Rui Hachimura are the molds for Sheppard’s culture reset in Washington: high-character, hard-working, high-IQ. Despite the 1-5 start, fans have to be excited about what they have in this young frontcourt pairing.

Even though Avdija’s game has been impressive, it’s what he and others are saying off the court that should have fans most optimistic about what the rookie can become.

When the Washington Wizards opened the season on a five-game skid, Deni Avdija experienced something brand new: an extended losing streak.  During his three seasons with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Avdija had never endured such a winning drought. Despite it, his outlook on the Wizards’ struggles, and their future, is veteran-esque.

Thank god it didn’t go on any longer, but it sounds like Avdija’s confidence would have been unshaken even if the streak had reached six games.

Not many rookies are labeled as “patient,” especially this early in the season, but Avdija shows nothing but poise under pressure.

Fortunately, Avdija’s impressive postgame remarks aren’t empty quotes. He wants to get better, and he’s doing whatever it takes to make sure he does. Including asking Scott Brooks to define “playing hard.”

Per multiple teammates and coaches, Avdija asks “a lot of questions.” That may not seem like a positive. Is he lost? Does he not understand what’s going on? Well, watching one minute of Avdija on the floor proves that’s not the case. He’s pretty much guaranteed to be the youngest player out there, but he’s rarely out of place.

Instead, the inquisitiveness shown by Washington’s new rookie is evidence of a refreshing perspective from a man who seems wise beyond his years. Avdija is a multi-time champion as a member of Maccabi Tel Aviv and a leader of the Israeli national team. But he came to D.C. hungry to learn. He trusts Scott Brooks (for better or for worse), he’s listening to Westbrook, and he’s committed to making things work, even if that means taking a backseat to superstars like Westbrook and Bradley Beal.

The man just recently turned 20 years old. He’s far from a finished product. However, Deni Avdija’s teammates are already noticing how he carries himself and how he makes everyone better. It’s just a matter of time until the rest of the league does, too.