Deni Avdija: 2020 Scouting Report

Deni Avdija is the best international prospect this year and has a chance to make a real impact at the NBA level. While he may be unknown in NBA circles currently, he won’t be for long.

Bio and Measurables:

Strengths: Avdija has an extremely high basketball IQ on both ends of the floor which aids in his success as a player in a fluctuating roll. By being able to adjust to the gameplan and accept the game to game role he plays he has shown that he has the ability to get involved and make an impact in a game regardless of his role. On the defense end he brings the discipline, effort and consistency that is necessary to be able to be an average to above average defender at the next level. He has the ability to block shots but has shown that he is very selective when jumping with the offensive player. Avdija possesses the ability to stay on the ground straight up preventing him from fouling his defender. Due to his height he also has the ability to rebound on both ends. From an offensive perspective his defensive rebounding skill helps him immediately start the fast break. He has shown he has the ability to dribble through traffic and is point forward esque with the ball. Even though he statistically only averages 2.7 assists he has shown that he is a much better passer than his numbers indicate. Another misleading statistic is his free throw percentage, while he has struggled in the past, Avdija tweaked his jumper and has been reaping the benefits of the adjustment at the line and on the floor. Adding improved three point shooting to his game which already featured good finishing ability around the rim and the ability to score in the post, positions Avdija to do a little bit of everything on the offensive end. This ability to finish around the rim and pass, accompanied by his patience, make him a dual threat when executing the PNR. Bringing all of this to the table, he is extremely young and has the potential to continue to grow in a more consistent role in the NBA.

Weaknesses: Avdija’s basketball IQ has the ability to hide some of his weaknesses on the floor but he still struggles in some areas. He doesn’t have great length for his height which puts him at a disadvantage when defending. Even though he stays straight up on defense he is not strong enough to keep defenders from backing him down and gaining position in the post. When defenders are able to gain this position he also has a hard time anticipating their post moves which usually leads to an open look 15 feet or closer to the basket. Outside of the post he has trouble stopping his own momentum and has a tendency to foul to bail himself out. For example, if he runs into a screen and his man rolls to the top of the key, receiving the ball and stopping on a dime, he struggles to stop with him as he chases to recover. His strength also hurts him when rebounding, stronger players have the ability to push him out of position when the ball is in the air making it hard for him to start breaks. He lacks lateral quickness and has choppy feet which contribute to defenders getting the first step. Offensively, he has improved as a free throw and three pointer shooter but if he regresses back to his old form he could struggle.

External Factors: His role did fluctuate at Maccabi Tel Aviv based on the level of competition he was facing but overall he gained essential professional experience. Outside of this fluctuating role, there are no other external factors that have impacted or should impact his game at the next level.

Medical History: Avdija has not had any significant basketball injuries.

Summary: If you are looking for a player with a high ceiling that can contribute immediately on both ends of the floor look no further than Deni Avdija. Even though his role at the international level fluctuated depending on the team Maccabi Tel Aviv faced, Avdija was playing for one of the best teams outside of the NBA at 18. He earned his minutes through his high basketball IQ and active participation on both ends. Avdija does need to add some weight and clean up his defense if he wants to truly be great but as a 19 year old that can already pass, shoot, rebound, finish in traffic, dribble and defend effectively he should have no problem finding minutes in the NBA. If he can continue to improve his shot from behind the arc and at the free throw line he will earn more minutes as a shooter. Within the NBA system he will also be able to add the necessary strength needed to maintain his position defending in the post and boxing out on rebounds which will help his overall game.