In 2025-26, the Trail Blazers are 18-20 through their first 38 games. That is 10th in the Western Conference as of Friday, January 9. Portland is 6-4 in its last 10 and has won four consecutive games.
Leading the way for the Blazers this season is 25-year-old Deni Avdija. The former first-round pick by Washington is having a career-best across the board in 2025-26. With his impressive performances on a nightly basis, Avdija is in strong contention to win some end-of-season awards. According to major betting sites, Deni Avdija is currently emerging as the favorite to win Most Improved Player in 2025-26.
Deni Avdija is having a breakout season for the Trail Blazers
A season-high night for Deni Avdija 🔥 pic.twitter.com/70sobpCzid
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 8, 2026
During the 2024 offseaosn, the Wizards traded Deni Avdija to the Trail Blazers. In that deal, Washington received the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, a 2029 first-round pick, and two second-round selections. Portland traded that all away to acquire an emerging star in Deni Avdija. In his last season with the Wizards, Avdija averaged a career-high 14.7 points per game. Deni Avdija is now in year two with the Trail Blazers, and he’s taken his game to another level.
Avdija has started all 38 games for Portland this season. He is enjoying a career-best season with the Blazers across the board. His 26.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 35.3 minutes per game are all new career-highs. In Portland’s last game, Deni Avdija scored a season-high 41 points. He’s been dominant in December and January.
Deni Avdija during Portland's current 4-game win streak:
34.3 PPG
7.8 RPG
8.0 APG pic.twitter.com/JGY6FyJib9— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) January 8, 2026
According to betting sites, Deni Avdija is emerging as the favorite to win Most Improved Player in 2025-26. Last seasonm Avdija averaged 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. During his 2025-26 campaign, Avdija has improved his scoring by nearly a full 10 points. Deni Avdija has taken a step forward in his career progression, and that’s evident each night he takes the court. In the team’s current four-game win streak, Avdija is averaging 34.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists.
Deni Avdija could be named a first-time all-star in 2025-26. In the second round of votes tallied by the league, Avdija has 1,224,109 votes, seventh in the Western Conference. More than players like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, James Harden, Anthony Davis, and Devin Booker. That’s how impressive Deni Avdija has been this season.
He is being supported by Blazers fans and members of his home country, Israel. As a foreign-born player, Avdija is likely to be backed by many Israeli fans. Can Deni Avdija be named an All-Star and win Most Improved Player in the same season? Memphis Ja Morant is the last player to accomplish that in 2021-22.
