Gilbert Arenas Criticizes Deni Avdija's Status, Sparks Debate
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas criticized the hype around Deni Avdija, arguing that elite guards like Damian Lillard and Ja Morant would face harsher criticism with similar stats. Baron Davis defended Avdija, highlighting his closing ability.
Despite Deni Avdija's stellar season with the Portland Trail Blazers, which culminated in ESPN ranking him among the top 30 players in the NBA and earning him an All-Star nod, former star Gilbert Arenas is struggling to accept that established stars like Ja Morant and Damian Lillard should step aside and defer to Avdija. According to Arenas, "For a season like Avdija's, they would be booing Lillard."
"For the kind of season Deni Avdija put up, you would say Lillard is washed," Gilbert Arenas argued on his podcast. "24, 7, and 7? When Lillard scored 25 points in Milwaukee, what did you say? That he lost it. Deni is the weak link in what's happening there."
This claim met with strong pushback during the discussion, with Baron Davis arguing: "The newcomers need to build around him. He is our recipe for success. He has already done it, let's push him, make him an All-Star — and then it will be easier for Ja and Dame to succeed."
"Deni Avdija closed games for Portland last year. This is my team. I got stars, and everyone needs to help me become a bigger star. Morant needs to think like that — how do I make the players around me better? And that's what will make him better." Host Josiah Johnson chimed in, "What is Ja supposed to think? I don't see people wearing Deni's shoes at the gym." Baron Davis fired back: "In Memphis, Ja didn't know how to close games, and Avdija is a closer. Morant needs the players around him to uplift him and help him become a better player."
Last night, Portland played its first preseason game, and Deni Avdija finished with 23 points in 21 minutes, taking a high volume of shots (9-for-13).
