The growth of Deni Avdija over the last few seasons has been astounding. After a rough start to his career with the Washington Wizards, he found his groove with the Portland Trail Blazers and has since exploded into an All-Star season.
However, coming into the league, scouts saw some of that talent on full display, making him a highly touted draft pick. So much so that the Israeli star was shocked after falling to the Wizards at No. 9.
Why Deni Avdija Was Shocked by His Fall in the 2020 NBA Draft
Draft rivalries are par for the course in the NBA. With outstanding prospects being clubbed together, it is easy to imagine the competition being fiercer as a chance to prove themselves superior.
Draymond Green, for instance, has long iterated that he can name all 34 players drafted before him. These days, though, fans don’t see that outward rivalry very often. For Avdija, it seemed to be a similar case.
But he hasn’t forgotten about the draft-day slight against him. During an appearance on the “Old Man and the Three,” he revealed the shock he received from the Chicago Bulls, who had the fourth overall pick that season.
“The whole world thought Chicago will take me at 4. Like, it made the most sense, and when Chicago drafted Patrick Williams, it was a surprise. Because I don’t know, nobody really thought about him going four. Nobody really knew his name.”
Deni Avdija: “The whole world thought Chicago will take me at 4 (draft pick). Like, it made the most sense, and when Chicago drafted Patrick Williams it was a surprise. Because.. I don’t know, nobody really thought about him going four… nobody really knew his name.”
Via… pic.twitter.com/SHvx3zCSKF
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 14, 2026
Williams, in his time with the Chicago Bulls, has emerged as an underwhelming player for his lofty draft pick. Averaging double digits just twice in his six-year career, he’s shot under 40% from the field over the past two years.
As a result, a five-year, $90 million extension after his rookie contract has become a heavy burden for the Bulls, who haven’t gotten anywhere with him. But it was rather surprising to see Avdija call him out so directly.
Meanwhile, taken in the 2020 NBA Draft, Avdija was off to a brutal start in Washington. As he failed to eclipse 10 points per game over his first three years, the label of bust was becoming all too apparent for him. In June 2024, the Wizards chose to trade him to the Portland Trail Blazers.
With the Blazers, Avdija finally took off. After a strong first season, he exploded into an All-Star this year, with career highs across the board. Averaging 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists, he was a key reason for Portland making it to the Play-In.
