Deni Avdija

Wizards forward Deni Avdija will train with NBA skills trainer Drew Hanlen over the course of a multiple this offseason, Wizards insider Quinton Mayo reported May 28. Hanlen has trained some of the NBA’s most renowned scorers, including Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid — this year’s MVP runner-up) and the Wizards own Bradley Beal.

Quinton Mayo: Wizards third-year forward, Deni Avdija will be training with NBA skills coach @DrewHanlen for a few weeks this off-season, sources tell me. Some notable full time clients of Hanlen’s are Joel Embiid, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, Zach LaVine, Jordan Clarkson & RJ Barrett. 1/. Source: Twitter @RealQuintonMayo.

Deni Avdija made his return to the Washington Wizards this season after an abrupt ending to his rookie year, that was caused by a leg injury. During the off-season, he spent time recovering, before making a return in time for the 2021-22 season. Amazingly, he suffered no ill effects from last season’s injury, even becoming one of only five players in the entire league who played in every game this season. The time he was able to put on the court this season gave us a great glimpse of where he is in his development and what his potential looks like for years to come.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Each week we ask questions of the most plugged-in Washington Wizards fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to join Reacts. Wizards fan confidence drops to 29 percent. The Wizards were 35-47 in the 2021-22 NBA...

WASHINGTON -- Very little about Deni Avdija's time in the NBA so far has been normal. He was drafted in November of 2020, just after the NBA finished it's 2019-20 season in a bubble. There was no summer league and a shortened training camp before games were mostly played in empty arenas. His first offseason after his rookie year was shorter than normal, as the Wizards played into June, and he spent most of it rehabbing a fractured ankle.

WASHINGTON -- Credit to ESPN for noticing this, as normally an NBA player appearing in all of their team's games would not be especially noteworthy, but due to the unusual circumstances of this season, there are only five players who have played in every possible game. One of them is Wizards forward Deni Avdija, who on Friday night appeared in his 81st consecutive game with one more to go on Sunday.

Avdija put up 11 points (5-11 FG, 1-4 3Pt), four rebounds, three assists and one steal in the 114-92 loss to New York on Friday. Avdija has quietly been having one of the more impressive stretches among role players. The rookie is up to 12.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists since the middle of March. He was thrust into the starting lineup after Kyle Kuzma (knee) was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Avdija will start Friday's game against the Knicks, Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington reports. Friday will mark Avdija's seventh start of the season. He struggled in previous starts, shooting just 29.5 percent from the field, but he's played better in extended run lately. Over the past 14 matchups, the sophomore has averaged 12.8 points on 43.8 percent shooting, 5.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 28.9 minutes.

Avdija racked up nine points (4-11 FG, 1-7 3Pt), seven rebounds and six assists in 34 minutes during Wednesday's 118-103 loss to Atlanta. With Kyle Kuzma (knee) still out, Rui Hachimura continues to draw starts, but Avdija has seen his reserve role increase as well. The second-year forward played a team-high 34 minutes off the bench Wednesday and fell one point short of scoring in double figures for an eighth time over the last nine games. However, he salvaged the night with a well-rounded effort, dishing out at least six assists for just the third time this season. Over his last nine appearances, Avdija has averaged 13.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 29.6 minutes per game.

Avdija ended Tuesday's 107-94 loss to the Bulls with 14 points (6-10 FG, 2-5 3Pt), eight rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal over 29 minutes. Avdija continued his recent form, putting up numbers across the boxscore. In 30 minutes per night over the past week, he is averaging 15.3 points to go with 7.3 boards, 3.3 assists and 2.5 triples. With very little to play for, the Wizards are likely to keep him as a significant part of the rotation ROS, with a view to deciphering his role for next 2022-23. Keep him locked into all fantasy lineups moving forward.

Wizards seeing development of Avdija in career night originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington. Offense has been difficult to come by for the Wizards in recent games, but that was not the case in the first half of their win over the Detroit Pistons and the main contributor to that was second-year forward Deni Avdija. He had 17 points and seven rebounds by halftime en route to a career-high 21 points.

Avdija poured in 21 points (7-16 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists and one block across 32 minutes in Friday's 100-97 victory over the Pistons. Avdija's 21 points scrored were good enough for both a season high and career high. It was also his third double-double of the season. He has averaged 8.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.0 triples across 23.6 minutes in 13 games in March.

Avdija ended with 12 points (5-13 FG, 2-7 3Pt), four rebounds and two assists across 32 minutes during Thursday's 114-102 loss to the Bucks. Avdija was somewhat productive in the loss, continuing what has been a decent few days in terms of meaningful contributions. Despite having carved out a consistent role for the Wizards, especially following the trade deadline, Avdija has been unable to put it all together. His numbers have fluctuated wildly, and, coupled with poor efficiency, he is simply too hard to trust in 12-team formats right now.

Avdija recorded 19 points (7-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 5-6 FT), seven rebounds and three assists over 28 minutes during Wednesday's 127-109 loss to the Nuggets. Despite coming off the bench, Avdija led all Wizards in scoring. The 21-year-old has bounced back with two double-digit scoring outings after previously enduring a three-game stretch in which he failed to score across a combined 44 minutes. In his second year, Avdija has improved in most statistical categories and can be regarded as a fantasy sleeper into next season if his usage regulates.

Avdija played 11 minutes in Friday's 122-109 loss to the Lakers, finishing with zero points (0-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 0-2 FT), four rebounds and two assists. After averaging 28.0 minutes per game in 11 February contests in the wake of Bradley Beal's season-ending wrist injury, Avdija has seen his role scaled back considerably in March. He's now played 22 minutes or fewer in four of the first five games this month, with his downturn in playing time coinciding with the return of Kristaps Porzingis from a knee injury and the addition of Tomas Satoransky to the roster. Porzingis' scheduled absence for rest purposes Saturday against the Trail Blazers could lead to slight more minutes for Avdija, but the 21-year-old's role doesn't look as though it'll be sizable enough in the upcoming week to make him worth holding in 14-team leagues or shallower.