Nobody had a better 2025-26 season for the Portland Trail Blazers than Deni Avdija. In his sixth NBA season Avdija scored a career-high 24.2 points per game, adding 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists, earning his first NBA All-Star nomination in the process.
The Trail Blazers have changed significantly over the summer, though. They traded forward Jerami Grant for point guard Ja Morant. They are preparing to welcome back franchise-leading guard Damian Lillard. They did not trade Jrue Holiday or Scoot Henderson.
That leaves at least four primary ball-handlers competing for the same rock. Avdija’s ascendance coincided with the ball being placed in his hands.
Portland also has a new coach and new priorities, not just to make the playoffs but to excel there.
So, assuming Avdija has to share the ball more, the offense slows down slightly with Lillard, and Head Coach Micah Nori has more plans than just, “Drive quick and see what happens!”, what do you think will happen to Deni’s rise? Do you foresee him breaking through even further? Holding steady? Or do you see him returning to the 15-17 points and 4 assists that were his standard before the keys to the team were placed in his hand?
Is Deni going to be a perennial All-Star or will his game be affected by these moves? Share your thoughts and reasoning in the comments section below.
