Deni Avdija's Latest Unbelievable Stat: Only LeBron Did This Before Him! /VIDEO/

Pulse Sports Team 13:59 - 20 April 2026

The San Antonio Spurs secured a victory in the first game of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers (111-98) on their home court. However, despite the outcome, Deni Avdija stole the spotlight.

The San Antonio Spurs successfully leveraged their home-court advantage to secure a victory in the opening game of the series.

Despite his team's loss, Deni Avdija delivered a stellar performance in Texas, finishing the game with 30 points, ten rebounds, and five assists.

In doing so, he became only the second player in NBA history to record 30+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in his playoff debut. The first, of course, was LeBron James.

Avdija Nears Most Improved Player Award

Portland Trail Blazers star Deni Avdija is one of three finalists for the NBA's Most Improved Player award for the past season.

Joining Avdija in contention are Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Atlanta Hawks and Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons, as announced by the NBA.

Compared to last season, Avdija's scoring average significantly improved from 16.9 to 24.2 points per game, while maintaining similar shooting percentages from the field. The forward became a focal point of Portland's offense and their primary playmaker, leading the Blazers to their first playoff berth in five years.

Throughout the season, Avdija also averaged 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game, earning his first All-Star selection.

It's clear that Avdija faces stiff competition for the award. Alexander-Walker recorded the largest increase in scoring average of any player in the NBA, jumping from 9.4 points per game to 20.8, while shooting nearly 40% from three-point range.

Alongside Avdija, Duren also played well enough to earn an All-Star nod, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in just 28 minutes per game.