If we had to draw up a list of the satisfactions of the sad season on the collective level of Wizardsthe page would no doubt be sparsely filled, but a presence would first come to mind: that of Deni Avdija.
The Israeli winger has just concluded his third season with the club in the American capital, and his progress, slow but certain, was indeed one of the rare rays of sunshine in the gloomy exercise of the Wizards.
” I think he’s had a better string of good games this season than last season. This is a building base for the sequel. declared Kyle Kuzma. ” In fact, with Deni, it’s all about confidence and mindset. This season, we have seen many games against more modest opponents, where he has dominated individually. »
And the main interested party, lucid, does not even need to be told the obvious: ” Now I have to repeat [ces performances] with better regularity » indeed notes the former Maccabi. ” I showed that I can help the team in different ways on good days, but on bad days I also have to find a way to exist. »
Particularly in attack, a side of the field on which his shortcomings in the exercise of outside shooting in particular handicap him too much (29.7% this season), and limit his contribution and his usefulness when he does not often have the ball in the hands to express themselves, alongside Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma.
” The most important thing with this guy is that he has this aggressiveness, this hunger for work ” relativizes a Kristaps Porzingis confident in the future progress of his teammate. ” I know he’s going to burn out this summer. He wants to become better. »
The contract extension mentioned, but still far away
Eligible for a contract extension this summer/fall, if his camp and that of the Wizards find an agreement before the “deadline” of October, Deni Avdija affirms in any case his desire to stay in Washington, even if he knows well that not everything depends solely on his will.
” DC has been my home for three seasons, but right now I don’t know what it is [de la prolongation] “he assures as well. ” Time will tell, I guess. »
Especially in view of the current context in the offices of the capital club: GM Tommy Sheppard has just been fired, leaving the decision now to depend on the choices of his successor…
A complex situation, knowing that Tommy Sheppard had supervised the selection of Deni Avdija in the 2020 Draft, and had just recently raised the subject of a contract extension.
” We do not talk about the progress of our negotiations in public. But Deni, for sure, is a brilliant youngster. He more than deserved that we talk about a potential contract extension. When the time comes, we’ll sit down and discuss it. “had indeed declared the GM, before taking the door…
In other words: everything has to be redone, in a way, for Deni Avdija. He will have, next season, to prove that he can take a step forward and play with more regularity, to convince the future boss of the Wizards.
| Deni Avdija | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2020-21 | WAS | 54 | 23 | 41.7 | 31.5 | 64.4 | 0.4 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 6.3 |
| 2021-22 | WAS | 82 | 24 | 43.2 | 31.7 | 75.7 | 0.6 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 8.4 |
| 2022-23 | WAS | 76 | 27 | 43.7 | 29.7 | 73.9 | 1.0 | 5.4 | 6.4 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 9.2 |
| Total | 212 | 25 | 43.1 | 31.0 | 73.4 | 0.7 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 8.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
