By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
VITORIA-GASTEIZ Maccabi Tel Aviv youngster and NBA Draft prospect Deni Avdija had just scored his team’s five points, including the go-ahead free throws, and got the game-winning block to propel his team to a 72 – 71 victory over Zalgiris Kaunas in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament.
Yet despite his crunch time feats, Avdija preferred to discuss what he didn’t do well in the match and shift the attention to his teammates’ contribution to the victory.
“It’s not just me. I want to take a responsibility. I didn’t have a good game,” Avdija told Eurohoops.
Avdija’s self-criticism arrived after he finished the match with 19 points (6/10 2-pointers, 0/8 3-pointers), 12 rebounds, seven assists but also eight turnovers.
“I did my stuff. It didn’t go well for me. They [my teammates] kept their lead . I’m very proud of them. They played like real men. And it’s their win as is mine.”
Avdija,18, is currently a projected lottery pick for the 2020 Draft. The Israeli point forward admits that it’s hard to not think of the NBA. Yet he manages to keep his attention to what he needs to do in the present, instead of the future.
“Of course it [the NBA Draft] comes to mind sometimes. But I’m focusing on what I’m doing right now. I’m trying to get day by day. Live day by day. I’m not thinking about if I’m going to play 30 minutes or 13 minutes. I’m working super hard. Stay to shoot after games. I’m grateful for everything that Maccabi Tel Aviv does for me now and there’s still time for the NBA.”
Check out what Avdija said to Eurohoops about how he’s working to improve himself, Maccabi’s coach Giannis Sfairopoulos and his goals for the summer and the next season.