There was a lot to love on Valentine's Day for Washington Wizards fans. Well, minus, of course, the result of the game in New Orleans on the week of Mardi Gras. The 133-126 defeat doomed the visiting Wizards to a 9-45 record for the first half of the 2023-24 NBA season.
The brightest spot that made Washington fans' hearts skip a beat was from 2020 first-round pick Deni Avija. The former ninth-overall selection scored 43 points on 13-for-24 shooting (6-for-10 from behind the arc) with 15 rebounds, three assists and one block in 40 minutes and finished with a plus-minus of plus-14, in a game Washington lost by seven.
Craig Hoffman reflected on Avdija's progression, suggesting he could become a vital piece for a championship-caliber team. Listen to the full take from the Hoffman Show on the audio player above!
On the season, the fourth in the league for the Israeli-born Avdija, he is averaging 13.8 points on a 52.1 field goal percentage (40.5 percent from three), 6.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 28.2 minutes per game. All of those are career highs.
Of course, the advanced stats show this isn't a budding superstar exactly. His player efficiency rating through 54 games is a tick above average 15 at 15.3 (surpassing his previous season-high of 11.6) and his win share is just 2.4 on the year. However, that matches his season high in 82 games, so there is an upward trajectory. But it is not that steep a climb.