"Deni Avdija is a phenomenon: when he feels confident, he cannot be stopped"
Avi Even explained the secret to the Portland star's success on the "Double Dribble" podcast: "He improves every year, he is in an amazing place, and I hope he continues to grow."
In the latest episode of "Double Dribble," guest Avi Even reflected on watching Deni Avdija's career start up close—back when he was a promising talent at Maccabi Tel Aviv, rather than the established NBA star he is today.
"Deni is a phenomenon," said Even. "First of all, he is one of the most charming guys there is. Deni is an evolving beast. This is not the same Deni we saw when he finished his chapter at Maccabi Tel Aviv. You mentioned Regev Fanan—he works closely with Oded Brandwein; he is a pro. Things don't just happen by chance. Deni has something very special: when he feels confident, he cannot be stopped."
"And the opposite, by the way, which is a problem of a different kind. He returns to his confidence," said panel member Roi Zuckerman.
"True, and that is something they work on. You need psychological confidence to fly. You need an environment that believes in you and supports you," Even explained. "There are players who improve a little here and a little there, but Deni gets better every year. Whether it's the shooting coach who works with him, or Oded and Regev. A good word should also be said for his agent, Matan, who supports him, because it is not as simple as it looks to be around such a player. Deni is in an amazing place, and I hope he continues to grow. It is a great privilege to see this, and it is a crazy example for us until the next 'Deni' arrives in the NBA."
