Deni Avdija Isn't Chasing All-Star Recognition Anymore - He's Setting the Standard

Deni Avdija’s breakout season has reached a point where the question is no longer whether he belongs in the NBA’s All-Star conversation, but how high he can realistically climb.

The Israeli forward is firmly in the mix for a spot in next month’s All-Star Game in Los Angeles, sitting seventh in Western Conference fan voting in the first returns released late last month. With 606,299 votes, Avdija finds himself ahead of some of the most recognizable names in the league, a remarkable position for a player who entered the season outside most national spotlights.

Fan voting accounts for 50 percent of the All-Star starter selection, with current NBA players and a media panel each contributing 25 percent. While final rosters are still weeks away from being decided, Avdija’s early showing underscores just how dramatically his profile has risen during his first full season in Portland.

The surge in fan support reflects a year of sustained, high-level production. Wearing No. 8 for the Portland Trail Blazers, Avdija is averaging 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game, numbers that place him among the most versatile forwards in the conference. He has taken on primary offensive responsibilities, initiated sets, defended multiple positions and regularly closed games with the ball in his hands.

That all-around impact has turned him into the face of a Portland team navigating a transitional season. The Trail Blazers entered the week with a 16–20 record, ninth in the Western Conference and fourth in the Northwest Division, but Avdija’s play has kept them competitive in a tightly packed standings race.

His All-Star candidacy gained additional momentum this week when he was named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week. Over the span cited by the league, Avdija averaged 26.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.8 assists, highlighted by a 34-point performance followed by a triple-double in consecutive games.

One of the defining moments of his season came on his 25th birthday, when he recorded a triple-double in a 115–110 road win over San Antonio. He finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in 39 minutes, marking his third triple-double of the campaign.

Earlier in December, Avdija became Israel’s all-time leading NBA scorer, surpassing Omri Casspi’s career total of 4,642 points, a milestone that placed his rise within a broader historical context for Israeli basketball.

Drafted ninth overall by Washington in 2020, Avdija spent four seasons developing his game before a trade to Portland last year gave him a clear runway. He has responded by expanding every part of his game, from shot creation to playmaking to defensive versatility.

Whether he ultimately earns an All-Star roster spot will depend on voting dynamics and continued performance. What is already clear is that Avdija has crossed a threshold. He is no longer chasing recognition. He is setting the terms of the conversation.