OK, so I’m a bit of an Avdija doubter. Sell me on him. Why is this kid good?
He’s very talented. He creates for himself off the dribble. He can catch and shoot. He can be a cutter. He can put the ball on the deck. He has post-up moves, where he can muscle his way to the basket. He has great fundamentals. He’s got size and quickness. He has a very nice first step, he can fast break very quickly. But his best trait, in my opinion, is his high basketball IQ. He can read one or two plays ahead, which is very unique.
Is he a legit wing? What kinds of lineups is he frequently used in?
The most likely comparison is Joe Ingles. He’s playing the 3, but he can be a playmaker or a secondary playmaker. A lot of times when he gets the ball, he penetrates and finds an open shooter or roll man. He’s very versatile. Most of the time he’s playing as a big wing but handling the ball.
So you mentioned Ingles. Do you have any other NBA players you could see him being similar to?
Some would say he has a kind of Boris Diaw-type game. Less bulky, of course. But as far as basketball IQ and court vision. Any big wing that has good interior and transition passing.