We are now two weeks in to the 2025-26 NBA season and the Portland Trail Blazers have gotten off to a strong 4-3 start. With a good amount of games under our belt, it is time to bring back the Blazer of the Week award to highlight standout players throughout the season.
This week for the first award, which spans the first two weeks instead of the typical one, the honor goes to Deni Avdija.
Avdija has averaged 24.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game as one of the focal points of Portland’s
offense so far this season. He has picked up right where he left off after a very strong finish last season, and has helped propel the Blazers to an above .500 record.
He has been tasked with running the offense at times, especially in the fast-paced, transistion oriented version of the offensive gameplan. That role has been a massive success so far. Avdija has excelled at using his speed to keep defenses off their rhythm and on the back foot. This pace has helped Portland be one of the fastest teams so far this season, and one of the best teams at scoring in transition.
On the defensive side of the ball, Avdija has been a major part of the new defensive identity of the Blazers. That identity is disrupting opponents and forcing turnovers by playing the passing lanes. While Toumani Camara, Jrue Holiday and Matisse Thybulle have been the faces of the strong defense, Avdija has been a major part of the new look Portland defense. His ability to guard multiple positions and stop ball handlers from blowing past the first line of defense has been a major part of forcing opponents to take risks, and taking advantage of risky passes to generate transition opportunities.
Many players contributed to Portland’s start to the season. This week I have two honorable mentions that I could not fully decide between: Jerami Grant and Matisse Thybulle.
Grant has quickly entered his name into NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidacy. Through the first seven games, he is averaging 20.3 points and shooting 51.3% from the field and 43.6% from three-point range. This efficient offense has helped Portland have a very strong spark off the bench and put pressure on defenses in the halfcourt in addition to in transition.
Thybulle is this week’s second honorable mention despite missing the last three games due to an injury. In the four games he did play, he was a massive culture setter on the defensive side. He tallied 2.5 steals per game, while also hitting 66.7% of his three-point attempts. He looked perfectly suited for the classic 3-and-D role, but also looked capable of leading the defense whenever he was on the court. His ability to both force the ball out of the hands of an offensive player and pick off a pass when it comes back make him an amazing defender on dangerous offensive threats. His return from injury will be eagerly awaited due to the energy and effort he brings when he is on the court.
Which Blazer impressed you most this week? Let us know in the comments below!
