Washington Wizards rookie Deni Avdija knew that he would just need time to adjust to the speed and physicality of playing in the NBA. Even through his first seven games, the 20-year-old feels like he knows the game even better than he did a month ago.
Avdija arrived in the NBA with prior professional experience after playing three seasons overseas with Maccabi Tel Avid in Israel. He has perhaps the most exposure to high-level basketball of any other rookie this year, and that has made for a smooth transition.
The ninth overall pick has started in every Wizards game to this point and is averaging 7.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals, while shooting 47.8% (11-of-23) from 3-point range. While he has had a solid start, he still knows that he can be better the more he plays.
“It’s just knowing the NBA better,” Avdija said on Tuesday of how he has improved since joining the Wizards. “How to defend better with your hands and just how to read the game better. I think me getting more experience and just feeling more comfortable on the court, I feel like I belong. I believe that with time, a lot of good things will happen. I’m looking forward to it.”
Avdija has impressed teammates and coaches by the volume of questions he asks during games and practices. The inquisitive nature of Avdija shows that he has a willingness to want to learn and improve, but that is simply just his personality on full display.
“I’m a very curious guy,” Avdija said. “If I’m in a new situation, if I’m in a new environment if I go travel somewhere, wherever I go, I always read about the city where I’m going, how big the population is, etc. Me asking questions is not going to kill anybody, it’s just going to help me know better things. That’s just me, that’s just my personality.”
By all accounts, Avdija will continue to have the opportunity to play a large role with the Wizards this season and that will certainly lead to more questions asked, but that should enable him to improve on a nightly basis.
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