Deni Avdija Makes All-Star Debut as Team World Falls Short in New Format Showcase
For the first time since Damian Lillard in 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers were represented on All-Star weekend - and this time, it was Deni Avdija stepping onto the national stage. The 6-foot-9 forward made his All-Star debut in this year’s revamped Rising Stars-style tournament, suiting up for Team World in a format that featured three squads: USA Stars, USA Stripes, and World.
Avdija’s stat line - 5 points, 4 assists, and 1 rebound across two games - won’t jump off the page, but his presence marked a milestone for both his career and the Blazers franchise. And while Team World didn’t make it to the championship game, there were flashes of chemistry, intensity, and international flair that made their run worth watching.
New Format, New Fire
This year’s All-Star format took another creative turn. Instead of a traditional East vs.
West or a fantasy-style draft, the league split American players into two squads - Team USA Stars and Team USA Stripes - while international talent was grouped together under Team World. The mini-tournament featured three games, each 12 minutes long, and an overtime rule where the first team to five points would win.
Avdija started both games for Team World and shared the court with international stars like Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic. And while the results didn’t go their way, the competition was anything but casual.
Game 1: Team World vs. USA Stars
Victor Wembanyama wasted no time setting the tone - winning the tip, then immediately throwing down a dunk and hitting a three to give Team World an early 5-0 lead. The energy was high, and so was the shot volume - not always for the better. Team World leaned into some questionable three-point attempts, and Avdija had a rocky start, turning the ball over and missing a three before finding his rhythm with a deep make and a fast-break assist.
Midway through the game, World surged ahead with a 14-2 run, and Avdija stayed on the floor through the first wave of substitutions, contributing with solid ball movement and transition play. But as the game tightened, Anthony Edwards - who would go on to win MVP - hit a clutch three to send it to overtime.
In the sudden-death OT, Avdija checked back in, but it was Wembanyama who hit a three to tie it after Team USA struck first. The dagger came when Karl-Anthony Towns was left wide open beyond the arc, draining the game-winner and sealing a 37-35 win for USA Stars. Avdija wrapped up Game 1 with 5 points and 2 assists in 8 minutes of action.
Game 2: USA Stars vs. USA Stripes
With Team World on the sidelines, the two American squads squared off in a high-energy battle that saw big names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard take center stage. LeBron and Kawhi knocked down back-to-back threes early, and Jaylen Brown added a dunk to give Stripes a quick lead.
But the Stars weren’t going quietly. Tyrese Maxey and Anthony Edwards helped them claw back, and in the final moments, a steal and a few quick buckets flipped the script.
Stripes responded with a slick possession that saw the ball swing from LeBron to Durant, back to LeBron, then to Donovan Mitchell, who found De’Aaron Fox for the go-ahead triple. Stripes took the 42-40 win, keeping Team World’s slim championship hopes alive - but just barely.
Game 3: Team World vs. USA Stripes
For Team World to advance, they needed not just a win - they needed to win by at least three points. Avdija was back in the starting five, and Wembanyama came out with purpose, scoring at will and pushing World to a 7-point lead midway through the game.
But Kawhi Leonard had other plans.
The Clippers star caught fire, hitting seven straight shots to pull Stripes back into it. As the game tightened, Wemby and Kawhi traded buckets in a back-and-forth duel. World managed to take the exact three-point lead they needed late in the contest - a glimmer of hope that they might sneak into the title game.
But with the clock winding down, Kawhi calmly dribbled it out, pulled up from deep, and drilled the game-winner. Just like that, World’s tournament was over.
Avdija went scoreless in Game 3, logging one rebound and two assists. While the stat sheet was modest, his composure and court vision in a high-paced setting stood out - a good sign for Portland fans watching from home.
Championship Game: Stars Dominate
With Team World eliminated, the final showdown featured the two USA squads. Kawhi Leonard, fresh off a 31-point performance over two games, looked poised to carry Stripes - but the Stars had other ideas.
Tyrese Maxey and Anthony Edwards came out blazing, leading Stars to a 12-1 start and never looking back. Stripes’ big names - Durant, Leonard, and Brown - combined to go 0-for-9 early, and the game quickly got out of hand. Stars rolled to a 47-21 win, and Edwards, who totaled 32 points across the tournament, took home MVP honors.
What’s Next for Avdija and the Blazers?
With All-Star festivities in the rearview, the NBA regular season resumes on Thursday, Feb. 19. The Trail Blazers are back in action the following night, Friday, Feb. 20, when they host the Denver Nuggets at the Moda Center.
For Deni Avdija, the All-Star experience was a stepping stone - a chance to showcase his growth, rep his team on a national stage, and get a taste of the league’s biggest weekend. Now, it’s back to business in Portland - where the Blazers are hoping this is just the beginning of more big moments for their rising star.