Deni Avdija, a potential top-three pick in the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft, opted to finish the season with Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv before coming to the United States. According to Avdija, who is considered the top international prospect in his class, he has “a job to finish” in Israel before starting his NBA career.
Avdija averaged 12.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in Israeli Premier League before the 2019/20 season was suspended due to coronavirus. He emerged as one of Maccabi’s most important players on the court and is expected to play a significant role in the team’s attempt to win their third straight title in the domestic competition.
“As a competitor, I am committed to my organization and teammates to help bring a championship to Tel Aviv,” Avdija told ESPN. “We were having such a great season, so winning the title, even with the delay and without live fans, will give me a sense that the hard work paid off.”
The Israeli Premier League regular season resumed on Sunday, with each team having seven games left to play. The playoff series will consist out of the best-of-three series quarterfinals, while the semi-finals and Finals will be single-elimination games.
Deni Avdija caught the attention of NBA scouts thanks to his versatility and ability to defend multiple positions. He is also viewed as a capable playmaker who can pose a threat from both isolation and the pick-and-roll.
Avdija is projected as a lottery pick in the upcoming draft, with the majority of the analysts projecting that the 19-year-old could be among the first three players selected.
