Deni Avdija on making the transition from Europe to the NBA, playing for Israel & more | Thanalysis

Deni Avdija is an Israeli-Serbian NBA small forward playing for the Washington Wizards, declaring for the NBA Draft in 2020. He is also a member of the Israeli Senior National Basketball team; winning two gold medals for Israel at the youth level, including the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship, where he was named the tournament's most valuable player.
Deni Avdija joins Thanasis Antetokounmpo discussing; his start in basketball, realizing the NBA potential, playing each other overseas, getting drafted during the pandemic, what NBA scouts are looking for, Basketball Without Borders Camp, why some pros don't make it to the NBA, adjusting to America, house getting robbed, first day in the NBA and navigating pressure and the significance of the numbers that both Deni and Thanasis wear.
Introduction - 00:00
How Deni Started Playing Basketball - 1:28
Thanasis and Deni played against each other overseas - 4:46
Getting Drafted during the Pandemic - 6:13
What NBA scouts actually look for - 8:37
MVP at Basketball without Borders Camps - 10:24
Signs of growth in your game - 13:26
Why some pros don't make it in the NBA - 15:35
Adjusting to America - 18:46
The NBA is an emotional roller coaster - 22:10
Why TA started reading more books - 25:34
The Gameday Routine - 28:04
First day in the NBA - 30:56
Navigating pressure in the NBA - 33:45
Being Deni the person with friends - 38:36
Why Deni wears number 9 on his jersey - 40:49
Why TA and Giannis wear 43 and 34 - 42:36
True or False - 46:02
What Deni does to relax - 47:28
Blending language and culture in the NBA - 51:05
Serving for your country - Mandatory Training - 55:44
Amazing Facts - 1:00:52
Learn to seek positivity instead - 1:03:03
Amazing Facts continued - 1:07:28
Coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos - 1:10:02
Playing in EuroBasket - 1:11:14
Football helps you learn Basketball - 1:14:54
Motivation from Deni - 1:16:11
Farewell - 1:17:20
Like, comment, share and hit that notifications button! AntetokounBros out!
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#thanalysis #NBA #deniavdija #Deni #israel #basketball #antetokounbros #Thanasis #antetokounmpo #wizards

[@PiniBarel]

Thanasis is officially subscribed to #Maakavdia 😍

[@maorbabayev3044]

אחלה פיני

[@master_yo7]

באמת?????

[@user-bl2mc2sm9p]

פיניייי

[@shahar8758]

אני מת😂😂😂

[@sapirvb]

עכשיו רק קוזמה חסר

[@techtlv1259]

I am Israeli and I want you to understand the part where Danny says that all of Israel follows his every success or lack of success, There is a KZbin channel run by a man named, Pini barel, who makes a program that tracks and analyzes the statistics of every game of Danny, this channel has 300 thousand regular viewers. We admire Danny and are happy with him when he is successful and sad with him when he is not doing well.

[@yonatanraz1234]

היידה פיני המלך אין ישראלי שאוהב כדורסל ולא רואה את פיני על בסיס יומי

[@liadshaked8480]

I absolutely agree with you.

[@user-wg2wn5tu7o]

pini is the goat

[@Zuckboys3]

A lot of the diaspora watches everything of his too אחי, lots of pressure.

[@silewis9396]

Why do you call him Danny

[@glenn1209]

Sending love from Philippines. Go Deni ❤

[@jamesbissonette]

Great podcast, My wife's family is also from Kosovo, Serbia - same as Avdija. So humble and professional!

[@adamalmagor8807]

Deni was born abd raised in israel. Only his father is from serbia

[@jamesbissonette]

@@adamalmagor8807 = his family

[@antoniobautista6718]

Holy crap man, you're actually the legend himself who supports History Matters! My man is a legend online ❤️🔥

[@user-tn5vu3qo6j]

אחלה דני יא תותח

[@dm3355]

Great interview man, big Deni fan here wish u both success next season 🦾🦾

[@user-uw4rk4ub2o]

אחלה דני - אוהבים אותך !!! ❤

[@omridagan5373]

Love ya thanasis! Your vibe is unmatched❤🇬🇷🇮🇱

[@Arhamanalamalquran]

Free Palestine 🇵🇸

[@COLESGONK]

Always liked Deni since the draft ! Keep putting in that work man 💪🏼

[@ACD1994]

Deni Avdija will be a future all-star. Looking forward to see Deni prove the haters wrong.

[@resudeew2636]

So excited as a Blazers fan to have Deni on the squad. Love this dude.

[@espoir023]

I love deni since 2020. Sending my support from philippines.

[@dori8325]

One of my favourite players is Jordan clarkson love his style of play🇮🇱❤️🇵🇭

[@avivshvitzky2459]

mahal kita

[@Arhamanalamalquran]

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@silewis9396]

Great interview. Seems Deni has been through a lot already. Big fan of his game and now the person.

[@Unmoved12345]

Great interview, thanks to you both. Thanasis, you're a natural.

[@Novatara]

Lots of Love for Deni 🇮🇱❤🇷🇸

[@Arhamanalamalquran]

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸😂

[@elirubinstein640]

A great episode from two great players!! Thank you!!

[@Arhamanalamalquran]

They both suck 😂🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@BAGUETTEO8]

Support From ISREAL

[@DavidCreationStudio]

Israel*

[@1stclone479]

not a real country unfortunately

[@Arhamanalamalquran]

Free Palestine

[@Arhamanalamalquran]

@@DavidCreationStudioPalestine* 🇵🇸😘

[@DavidCreationStudio]

@@Arhamanalamalquran wow you’re actually so funny that joke was hilarious I’m literally dying of laughter (sarcasm)

[@bonziwells1029]

First time i heard about deni when macabi played my team pao, its great that european players get the recognition they deserve.Greats like doron jamchi,galis didnt have a chance to show their skills

[@thethreestars]

If you take the podcast to Greece over the summer, please interview Big Sofo!!!!❤❤❤❤

[@wonderlandian8465]

Also Sasha Vezenkov

[@motish30]

That was fun to watch. Thanks Thanasis and Deni. The stories Deni told Kuzma about the military were hilarious 😂😂

[@abrahamsidibe1776]

Get your number quick Avdija 8 so you can ball out this next contract season 23/24!

[@deannemmer6742]

He needs to come to Miami!!!!

[@ACD1994]

I've been sleeping on Thanasis podcast. I watched this video, from beginning to end, this was a great conversation. Human nature to look for negative news is, so true. Didn't think about it that way. I definitely need to work on the positivity and looking for/finding the good in life...

[@galbaum33]

Fantastic interview. Very enjoyable. Deni mamash achla.

[@elirubinstein640]

Go Deni!!!

[@adilaskovsky9674]

Thanasis, I really liked this podcast and the ideas/insights you brought up here. Also despite being an NBA player, you seem to be a very humble person, enjoying also all the little things you get in life. You've just won over additional fan :)

[@roeypervo3688]

lol it was a surprise (a pleasent one) to see deni on this channel but it was an amazing podcast as usual, deni need to move to a FUNCTIONAL team cause he got the talent - but his role is dragging him down... kudos from israel - you are keep improving on those Thanasis you are doing good job!

[@ACD1994]

The Washington Wizards have a new front office with people actually know what they're doing. Deni will be just fine in DC.

[@orielya5624]

Two 🐐

[@docu2105]

Yo Deni if you by any chance read comments - know that some fans, like me, would love to see you in a number 8 jersey!

[@user-wg2wn5tu7o]

we love u deni

[@haramhartmut2311]

Deni on the raptors or spurs would be fun... I really really like Deni, but not so much that I would start to support the wizards (no offense)

[@area11_t36]

none taken done of us feel how you do

[@fadigoanmy8116]

After spurs getting the first pick i don’t think it’s the best place for deni to go to, not right now atleast

[@CHICHIBOI]

The Heat would be another good spot for him

[@Bubbyolo]

Nice

[@user-fo7hh3xh8r]

lets go 'turbo'

[@ran3904]

דני כפרה עליך תבוא אני אלמד אותך גיטרה שיעורים פרטיים עלי רק תבוא

[@Arhamanalamalquran]

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@hotdogs6977]

Let’s go deni 🔥🔥🔥🔥❤❤

[@Anonamoosemouse]

My dad did his mandatory service in the Greek army in the late 80s and he said a lot of Greek-Americans would come to visit Greece and get a Greek passport and then when they tried to leave to go back to America, they would have to serve in the army for 2 years because they now had Greek passports and weren't able to leave.

[@user-ib3kb1fd1c]

🔥

[@ilay3688]

LETS GO DENIII

[@ilovekaiyko]

Ayyyyye

[@magimixil]

דני יא ליצן מה עם ראיון לפני בראל ?

[@acforsale5802]

can you interview jimmy butler?

[@dubi32]

I have the ball they won the u19 championship and they all signed it

[@liamornassar970]

לא מאמין

[@JonathanCZ14]

Love you Deni!

[@usamj]

I wish Deni gets out of Washington to a real team which can develop and help him shine. He has all the potential to be a great player but Washington keeps players back. too bad

[@ACD1994]

New front office. There's at least should be some optimism that things will get better.

[@Yonatan...]

​@@ACD1994they're tanking now

[@eli-dr8lr]

Pini dont worry about Dennis negativity he will thank you for everything you do one day

[@seanyefet]

deni my Expensive brother

[@user-ne8wo2mu5q]

more european nba players next episodes pls

[@yonatanheymann4715]

Deni is the goat

[@Kerboripx]

Hes a good young point foward

[@BAGUETTEO8]

Power*

[@Kerboripx]

@@BAGUETTEO8 point foward

[@BAGUETTEO8]

@@Kerboripx same thing

[@Kerboripx]

@@BAGUETTEO8 your the one trying so hard to be right about something. A point foward is a foward doesnt matter the positon

[@BAGUETTEO8]

@@Kerboripx you are weird,cant understand you'll

[@user-bl2mc2sm9p]

Deni to Bucks 🔜

[@asaflavi5786]

Love it

[@aeco4135]

MEGALE THANASARA - OLI I KYPROS EINAI MAZI SOU

[@TodayintheNBA]

Let’s go Deni❤🇮🇱🇮🇱

[@Bass_Ben11]

Hiiiii

[@brutus-ro4df]

Το ίδιο λάθος με τον Θανάση κάνω...Advija τον λέω συνέχεια 😂

[@mmgsports642]

🇮🇱 🇬🇷

[@dannykoko_]

damn

[@88geia]

Πάμε λίγο κουβεντούλα για μπασκετικα

[@DashDrill]

אני אוהב אותך דני אני רוצה לראות אותך באולסטאר❤❤🇮🇱🇮🇱

[@RazzyDreads]

Damn ima lefty 😂 but I'm ambidextrous so I might be good.

[@eitanshafir1268]

דני למילווקי

[@tentwoXII]

לא, דני לקליבלנד!

[@user-ib3kb1fd1c]

❤️🇮🇱

[@Arhamanalamalquran]

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@squikiwiki1246]

deni promote yourself more. go to every fuking podcast GQ אל תהייה לי ניקולה יוקיץ לך ל תענה על שאלות כמו למלו ואנטטקומפו

[@user-xk8yt3ur5u]

מה קורה

[@BM0S]

NEED A GIANNIS INTERVIEW

[@user-dj2yj2db5q]

Goat🇮🇱

[@Arhamanalamalquran]

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@user-jd5nn8jh3i]

תעשה לי ילד

[@Arhamanalamalquran]

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@user-jd5nn8jh3i]

@@Arhamanalamalquran from the River to your toes you will never get some hoes

[@user-iv4ot8dn9m]

Why Giannis brothers have better accents then him 😂 All in good fun tho

[@motish30]

Probably no special reason. Practice perhaps

[@OG.551.98]

Deni, come play on the Miami Heat and you'll feel right at home on the beach with all the Israeli's.

[@kukublof5057]

the Israelis in Miami are hardcore ARSIM, I don't think they are his cup of tea lol

[@jefcergos]

When you put it that way, the Heat might actually be a great fit for him on and off the court.

[@user-ck2nq2oq8f]

Change to 8 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🐐🐐🐐

[@MDDM_Official]

🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Arhamanalamalquran]

🇵🇸

[@ananmuadi31]

You wanna be an all-star? It's a long road to go, first of all your BPM is in the gutter, a negative 2.3... Get traded to another team that its front office is competent (unlike Washington, Charlotte, Detroit, Orlando, Houston, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Dallas, etc.) like Miami for example. Don't be a role player, be a starter, play all 35+ minutes, increase your offense, shoot more free throws, practice shooting threes, start scoring 20+ points every game, because you're averaging less than 10 PPG for now, so stop having a single digit point game! I see that you have a positive BPM in defense, you can improve that for sure. Don't be like that below-avergae guy called Casspi.

[@evi388]

Hes looking good now though

[@TheFailMistress]

biggest bust of all time. he won’t even be an all star, let alone win a championship. im a DC native and i stopped being a wizards fan after he was drafted.

[@evi388]

You still think that?

[@TheFailMistress]

@@evi388 100%

[@evi388]

@@TheFailMistress why? He's been dropping consistent 20s with amazing playmaking passing and defense

[@TheFailMistress]

@@evi388 he’s on the wizards. scoring 20 is like scoring 10 on a different team, and that’s being generous. he isn’t all star caliber nor will he ever be. he doesn’t make people around him better, and he doesn’t win games. nobody knows him outside of wizards fans. even casual nba watchers in DC don’t really know of him like that.

[@evi388]

@@TheFailMistress not really, having a bad team can make it harder to score at certain times and you can see it in his games - he's a team player, even if his plays aren't as flashy as other players he's a good playmaker. And the fact that he's actually able to make decent plays in a garbage team shows what he's capable of in teams where the players have brains- I get what you mean but i think deni would definitely be a very good 6th man for a team like Denver

[@omerazulay3198]

Great talk guys love from israel🇮🇱💙🤍