Blazers’ Deni Avdija on Damian Lillard: ‘He makes everybody better’

Deni Avdija doesn’t need a lengthy explanation of what Damian Lillard brings to the Blazers. He’s getting to experience it.

And the benefits go beyond watching Lillard make shots from places most players wouldn’t consider.

“I mean, actions speak better than words, man,” Avdija told NBC Sports, via Arjun Julka of Basketball Network. “He can pull up from half-court. He spaces the floor. He makes the right decisions.”

Avdija’s conclusion was straightforward: “He makes everybody better.”

Tuesday’s 123-103 win over the Thunder offered a good example. Lillard scored 25 points, including a deep buzzer-beater to close the third quarter. Avdija contributed 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

The pairing gives Portland two players who can initiate offense, score and create opportunities for teammates. Lillard’s shooting range also means defenses have to account for him well beyond the arc, opening space for Avdija to attack.

For a player coming off his first All-Star season, that’s useful help. Avdija can keep expanding his game without having to manufacture every opportunity himself.

Lillard, meanwhile, sounds encouraged about his return from an Achilles injury.

“It’s been great, and the best is yet to come,” he told NBC Sports.

Through 10 games, he is averaging 20.0 points and 4.3 assists while shooting 43.3% from the field. There’s still room for improvement, but Portland is already getting meaningful production while he works his way back.

As we covered after the Thunder win, the Blazers are finding more ways to win through shared responsibility. Avdija’s comments help explain why Lillard fits into that approach.

The big shots are familiar. Making the game easier for the players around him could be just as valuable to this version of the Blazers.

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