Deni Avdija's Rising Star
LeBron James Crowns Deni Avdija as NBA's Breakout Beast | WATCH
In the latest Season 3 episode, dropped just yesterday, LeBron teamed up with hoops legend Steve Nash to geek out over players making massive "leaps" this 2025-26 season, and Avdija got the ultimate high-five.
Tthe King himself, LeBron James, dished out royal praise for Israeli sensation Deni Avdija on his "Mind the Game" podcast, proving even GOATs can spot a diamond in the rough (or should we say, a slam-dunk steal?).
Avdija, the 25-year-old forward who's basically Israel's basketball ambassador, was snagged 9th overall by the Washington Wizards back in 2020, making him the first Israeli lottery pick ever. After four solid seasons in D.C., where he hovered around 14-15 points per game, he got shipped to the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2024 offseason.
Fast-forward to now? Boom! He's averaging a scorching 25.7 points, dishing assists like a pro chef, and bulldozing to the basket with newfound swagger.
LeBron couldn't hold back: "[Washington is probably] kicking themselves. He's a quality player. He's a big-time player. He's good. He's really good." Nash nodded along, hyping Avdija's aggression, sharper shooting, and all-around Blazers boost.
The buzz started with an X post from a fan, cheering "We love Deni ," and it's snowballed into viral love on Portland's Reddit and Israeli hoops forums. Who wouldn't? Getting LeBron's stamp of approval is like winning the NBA lottery, twice!