Deni Avdija missed his third straight game with a lower back injury, but the Portland Trail Blazers continued their strong run without the Israeli forward, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 132–116 late Saturday night.
Despite Avdija’s absence, Lakers star LeBron James again singled him out for praise after the game, calling him one of the league’s standout players this season.
“He’s having a hell of a season. He should be an All-Star,” James said. “His health is most important right now. He’s playing great basketball.”
It was the second time in less than two weeks that James publicly praised Avdija. Earlier this month, James highlighted Avdija’s breakout year during an episode of his podcast, “Mind the Game,” which he co-hosts with former NBA star Steve Nash.
During a discussion about players who have made significant jumps this season, both James and Nash pointed to Avdija. Nash said Avdija is among the players he most enjoys watching, citing a sharp rise in production and efficiency.
“Twenty-five points a game — that’s eight more than last season and two more assists,” Nash said. “At the time of the recording he was top four in the league in drawing fouls, with about nine and a half free-throw attempts per game. When he gets downhill, he’s a problem.”
James expanded on that assessment, emphasizing Avdija’s physicality and development as a scorer.
“He’s very physical when he gets to the rim, and if you don’t have a really strong body on him, he’s going to draw the foul,” James said. “He’s super physical, especially when he drives hard to the right. And like you said, he’s also improved his outside shooting. That’s what’s helped him have a breakout season.”
Nash added that Washington, which traded Avdija to Portland last summer, likely regrets the move — a point James agreed with, saying the Wizards “kicked themselves” over the decision.
Avdija has been sidelined with lower back soreness, but the Blazers are hopeful the rest will allow him to return soon. Portland is optimistic he could be available for Monday night’s road game against Sacramento. The Blazers are seeking a fourth straight victory, which would move them out of a losing record.
Avdija has emerged as a central figure in Portland’s rotation this season, and his recent absence has been closely watched as the team tries to build momentum in the Western Conference.