Deni Avdija and Trail Blazers Surge to 5-1 Start Under Coach Micah Nori

The Portland Trail Blazers have emerged as one of the most compelling stories in the NBA at the start of the 2026/27 season, boasting a 5-1 record and a lethal offense. Behind this success is a crucial phone call made four months ago by Israeli forward Deni Avdija to newly appointed head coach Micah Nori.

Following Portland's blockbuster trade acquiring Ja Morant to pair with Damian Lillard, Avdija reached out to address how a single basketball would be shared among multiple star-level playmakers. Nori quickly reassured him, outlining a tactical vision where Lillard and Morant would command defensive attention, allowing Avdija to attack from the weak side with maximized efficiency.

This strategy has yielded stellar results on the hardwood. Avdija leads the team with 23.8 points per game while shooting 48.5% from the field, and his turnovers have plummeted from 3.8 to 2.2 per contest. The culmination of this system was on full display during a road victory in Denver, where Avdija scored 28 points—including nine in the fourth quarter—snapping Portland's 11-game losing streak in Colorado.

Moreover, veteran superstars Damian Lillard and Ja Morant have voluntarily handed the reins to the Israeli standout. "I told Deni, 'I want you to be the leading horse,'" Lillard revealed, highlighting the seamless chemistry that has transformed the Trail Blazers into early title contenders.