Deni Avdija is heading to his firs NBA All-Star game. Photo: Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images
Blazers forward Deni Avdija was named to the NBA All-Star team over the weekend, a first for the budding star.
Avdija is averaging a team-leading 25.5 points per game this season, along with 7.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists — only Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić, bonafide superstars, can match that production.
It's the first time a Blazer not named Damian Lillard has made the team since LaMarcus Aldrige was selected in 2015.
Yes, but: Avidja has missed six of the last 10 games with a sore back and the Blazers have lost five in a row.