“ I never said that, I don't know where it came from. » Chauncey Billups is formal : he never claimed that he considered Deni Avdija as the “best player” of the Blazers.
A few days earlier, the Blazers coach made a laudatory comment for his Israeli recruit. “ We're still getting to know him, but he's probably the best player on the field in recent days “, blurted the technicianin the middle of “training camp”.
In the process, a first X account took up similar words from Billups (“ Deni Avdija is probably the best player on the team because of the way he plays “), aimed not at a general feeling, but at the training camp alone.
Comment echoed by a another account with a lot more followers – almost 2 million people – with this mention: “ Chauncey Billups on Portland's best player. » Some Internet users then jumped at the opportunity to recall the existence of a certain Anfernee Simons, the team's top scorer last season.
A “very valuable” player
“ Deni is one of our best players. Don't get me wrong. But I never said he was our best player. I wouldn't say he's our best player. But he is a very valuable player. I am very happy to be able to coach him », assures today Billups who remembers having complimented in this way “ about five players » from the team that day.
The latter, specifying not to be on social networks, calls for rigor. “ I am a man of my word. When I say something, I want it to be reported correctly », Claims the coach, none of his players have discussed the subject with him.
“ Nobody talked about it. But I received so many messages on my phone yesterday, from my friends and people around me. I told myself that if I had received this, I'm sure it got back to my guys », Finishes Billups to avoid any diplomatic incident.
| Deni Avdija | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | W.A.S. | 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 | W.A.S. | 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 | W.A.S. | 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 |
| 2023-24 | W.A.S. | 75 | 30 | 50.6 | 37.4 | 74.0 | 1.1 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 14.7 |
| Total | 287 | 26 | 45.7 | 32.7 | 73.7 | 0.8 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 9.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
