The Portland Trail Blazers have seen Deni Avdija quickly rise to stardom in just less than two years in their program. Now is the time to treat him right and save him from himself.
Avdija has had a stellar season for the Blazers, earning his first All-Star selection while posting career-highs across the board. In those first 40 games, Deni Avdija averaged 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three.
But on January 11, the Trail Blazers forward suffered a back injury in the team's home loss to the New York Knicks. It was a game in which he played a little over 38 minutes but after the game he admitted that he might have to miss some time.
Avdija missed three games before returning and playing well in a win against the Sacramento Kings, scoring 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the win. But the back injury resurfaced in the team's next game four days later against the Miami Heat. Avdija played only 17 minutes before departing and not returning.
This started an 18-game streak in which Avdija played only eight games, and if so, no more than two consecutive complete games.
Coming off the All-Star break, Deni Avdija played 30 minutes in a 54-point loss against the Nuggets and looked fine despite the blowout nature of the game. But just 59 seconds into Portland's contest against the Phoenix Suns, Avdija went to the bench to ask to cool off after a post-up attempt and did not return with another back injury.
Just a minute left in the game and Deni Avdija goes to the locker room with a lower back injury (with replay)
I also included the dramas he was already involved in#ripcity
It took a minute for the game to start and Danny Awadiya went to the dressing room with a lower back injury
This is really starting to become a matter of concern.
Including… pic.twitter.com/qMypKDl9p
- MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 23 February 2026
Acting head coach Tiago Splitter spoke about Avdija's injury after the game and how the team rallied to defeat the Suns despite playing without their key ball-handler and playmaker.
“Denny, like I said, he was questionable, he was feeling good before the game,” Splitter said. "His back just...felt it again, we lost him and it's not easy. The team had to figure it out offensively, but I think defensively, everyone stepped up and did an amazing job."
Splitter also mentioned that the Trail Blazers could explore the possibility of keeping Avdija sitting longer as they delve deeper into the root of his recurring back injuries.
When asked about the possibility of shutting down Deni Avdija, Splitter responded, "Well, I'm not a doctor, but yes." "I might have to look at what's going on and dig deeper to see what's really going on."
At this stage, the Portland Trail Blazers need Avdija to perform right and sit him out until his back is as close to 100 percent as possible. He is already scheduled to miss Tuesday night's game against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he should be kept on the bench for much longer to allow his back to properly heal.
The problem is that the Trail Blazers desperately need their All-Star forward as they continue to battle with the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers for position in the play-in tournament.
Entering Tuesday night, the seventh-seeded Suns have a game lead over the Blazers and the Warriors have a 2.5 game lead. Meanwhile, the Clippers are just a half-game behind Portland in the standings.
Additionally, Deni Avdija's Trail Blazers have lost the season series against the Suns 2–1, swept the season series against the Warriors 3–1, and trailed the season series against the Clippers 2–0 with the final two games remaining in the final three weeks of the season.
