While Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija didn’t play during Sunday’s 130-111 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he still spoke with media afterward to discuss his selection as an NBA Western Conference All-Star reserve. Avdija’s first-time selection is major news in Rip City, giving the franchise its first All-Star since Damian Lillard.
“I worked hard,” Avdija said. “I play hard. I don’t want to say I deserve it, but I do respect me and my game, and I’m really happy that I’m able to be an All-Star.”
The news dropped Sunday afternoon during Portland’s pregame film session ahead of the Cleveland matchup. Avdija said he had no idea beforehand if he was going to make the cut or not. When his phone began buzzing like crazy, he even wondered if it was people telling him to keep his head up after missing out. Avdija said he was so focused on the game — and is still so focused on how to help his team get out of this five-game slide — that the weight of the accomplishment hasn’t fully sunk in yet. He expects that’ll happen more as All-Star Weekend, taking place Feb. 13-15, gets closer.
While the feat hasn’t fully hit him yet, Avdija does feel the love and congratulations sent from family, friends, fans, teammates and coaches.
“The amount of love — not only from family and friends — it’s also the fans,” Avdija said. “And the whole State of Israel is just standing behind me, for real. My teammates have been awesome. Coaches. Everybody just hugging and showing the love.”
Avdija was also quick to give his teammates credit when a reporter asked about their role in the accomplishment.
“Thank you for making this point of thought because I couldn’t do it without my teammates,” he said. “I couldn’t do it without them. How we share the ball, how we play hard, where we are in the standings — it’s a team sport at the end of the day. You can be as good as you want, but you need your teammates to be there. … I can go down the line and thank my teammates, and they know I love them. And they helped me pursue a dream, and I’m gonna help them pursue theirs.”
Avdija was a last-minute scratch against Cleveland due to lingering issues with the lower back strain he first suffered on Jan. 12. At the pregame podium, Splitter said Avdija would probably play against the Cavs, but it would depend on how he felt during warmups. Avdija felt pain as he warmed up, so the decision was made to sit him for the night.
Avdija said it was bittersweet to sit out on the night of his All-Star selection. He still doesn’t think his back issue is anything serious, but he’s trying to think about what’s best for the long-term.
“It’s very hard to see my teammates out there playing and really competing, and I’m not able to help,” he said. “But at the end of the day, there is still a long season to go, and there is still accomplishments that we need to do, and I don’t want to be half-Deni in those. I really want to be myself. As much as it’s hard for me to do, but I’ve gotta be responsible for me and also for my teammates for them to get me at 100%.”
