Deni Avdija climbs in new rankings, earns high praise

After ranking 27th among the NBA’s best players in ESPN’s list and 38th in HoopsHype’s rankings, Deni Avdija has climbed to 24th in Bleacher Report’s latest rankings and 27th in a new list published by CBS.

Bleacher Report ranked the Israeli star ahead of several prominent names, including Chet Holmgren, Alperen Sengun, James Harden and LaMelo Ball. The publication also assigned individual grades to each player, with Avdija earning an overall score of 89.3. His scores included 89.1 in scoring, 79 in shooting, 89.4 in playmaking, 78.2 in defense and 83.4 in rebounding.

In CBS’s rankings, Avdija finished ahead of Jamal Murray, Jalen Johnson, Austin Reaves and numerous other players. His rise was particularly notable given that he ranked 76th on the publication’s list last year.

“Avdija relied primarily on one trick on his way to his first All-Star appearance last season, but it was an extraordinarily effective trick,” Sam Quinn wrote. “Avdija led the NBA in total drives to the basket, with roughly two-thirds of them coming on the right side. As a result, he also led the league in both assists and free-throw attempts generated off drives, and only a handful of players scored more total points as a result of such drives.

“Give Avdija the ball and let him attack the basket, and even with the extremely problematic spacing Portland had, a good offensive possession is likely to result. His defense declined last season as his offensive responsibilities grew, but with a more manageable workload and continued improvement as a shooter, Avdija has the tools to become one of the NBA’s best all-around wings under the right circumstances.”

Beyond Deni Avdija, the biggest risers in the rankings were Kon Knueppel, who climbed 53 places, Stephon Castle (+61), Dylan Harper (+63) and Jalen Duren (+67). Ja Morant recorded the steepest drop, falling 55 places.

1. Nikola Jokic
2. Victor Wembanyama
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
4. Luka Doncic
5. Anthony Edwards
6. Jalen Brunson
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo
8. Cade Cunningham
9. Stephen Curry
10. Jayson Tatum
11. Donovan Mitchell
12. Kevin Durant
13. Tyrese Maxey
14. Kawhi Leonard
15. Tyrese Haliburton
16. Jaylen Brown
17. Scottie Barnes
18. Jamal Murray
19. Karl-Anthony Towns
20. Devin Booker
21. Jalen Johnson
22. LeBron James
23. Cooper Flagg
24. Deni Avdija
25. Chet Holmgren
26. OG Anunoby
27. Pascal Siakam
28. Alperen Sengun
29. Jalen Williams
30. James Harden
31. Austin Reaves
32. Evan Mobley
33. LaMelo Ball
34. Bam Adebayo
35. Joel Embiid
36. Kyrie Irving
37. Stephon Castle
38. Amen Thompson
39. Anthony Davis
40. Paolo Banchero
41. Jalen Duren
42. Lauri Markkanen
43. Kon Knueppel
44. Trae Young
45. Desmond Bane
46. Derrick White
47. Dylan Harper
48. Franz Wagner
49. Brandon Miller
50. Rudy Gobert
51. Michael Porter Jr.
52. Domantas Sabonis
53. De’Aaron Fox
54. Jaren Jackson Jr.
55. Damian Lillard
56. Trey Murphy III
57. Darius Garland
58. Zion Williamson
59. Tyler Herro
60. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
61. Ausar Thompson
62. Paul George
63. Jaden McDaniels
64. Jarrett Allen
65. Ivica Zubac
66. Josh Giddey
67. Julius Randle
68. VJ Edgecombe
69. Aaron Gordon
70. Walker Kessler
71. Keyonte George
72. Payton Pritchard
73. Mikal Bridges
74. Isaiah Hartenstein
75. Ja Morant
76. Cameron Boozer
77. Dillon Brooks
78. CJ McCollum
79. Darryn Peterson
80. Jrue Holiday
81. Ajay Mitchell
82. Naz Reid
83. Cason Wallace
84. AJ Dybantsa
85. Josh Hart
86. Donovan Clingan
87. Norman Powell
88. Dejounte Murray
89. Fred VanVleet
90. Draymond Green
91. Peyton Watson
92. Coby White
93. Alex Caruso
94. Ayo Dosunmu
95. Matas Buzelis
96. Jalen Suggs
97. Andrew Nembhard
98. RJ Barrett
99. Caleb Wilson

1. Victor Wembanyama
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
3. Nikola Jokic
4. Luka Doncic
5. Anthony Edwards
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo
7. Jalen Brunson
8. Cade Cunningham
9. Jayson Tatum
10. Stephen Curry
11. Kawhi Leonard
12. Tyrese Haliburton
13. Tyrese Maxey
14. Donovan Mitchell
15. Kevin Durant
16. Karl-Anthony Towns
17. Jaylen Brown
18. Scottie Barnes
19. LeBron James
20. Jalen Williams
21. Pascal Siakam
22. Evan Mobley
23. Bam Adebayo
24. OG Anunoby
25. Cooper Flagg
26. Devin Booker
27. Deni Avdija
28. Chet Holmgren
29. Jamal Murray
30. Jalen Johnson
31. Austin Reaves
32. Amen Thompson
33. Derrick White
34. Jalen Duren
35. Alperen Sengun
36. Jaren Jackson Jr.
37. Joel Embiid
38. Dylan Harper
39. Anthony Davis
40. Stephon Castle
41. LaMelo Ball
42. Lauri Markkanen
43. Kyrie Irving
44. Franz Wagner
45. Paolo Banchero
46. Rudy Gobert
47. James Harden
48. Kon Knueppel
49. Jaden McDaniels
50. Trey Murphy III
51. Brandon Miller
52. De’Aaron Fox
53. Mikal Bridges
54. Trae Young
55. Desmond Bane
56. Zion Williamson
57. Keyonte George
58. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
59. Ausar Thompson
60. VJ Edgecombe
61. Damian Lillard
62. Josh Hart
63. Aaron Gordon
64. Jarrett Allen
65. Michael Porter Jr.
66. Walker Kessler
67. Paul George
68. Domantas Sabonis
69. Darius Garland
70. Alex Caruso
71. Payton Pritchard
72. Dillon Brooks
73. Jrue Holiday
74. Julius Randle
75. Cason Wallace
76. Brandon Ingram
77. Isaiah Hartenstein
78. Ivica Zubac
79. Draymond Green
80. Naz Reid
81. RJ Barrett
82. Josh Giddey
83. Norman Powell
84. Peyton Watson
85. Devin Vassell
86. Ajay Mitchell
87. Ja Morant
88. Andrew Nembhard
89. Tyler Herro
90. AJ Dybantsa
91. Dyson Daniels
92. Fred VanVleet
93. Collin Murray-Boyles
94. Alex Sarr
95. Cameron Boozer
96. Jaime Jaquez Jr.
97. Onyeka Okongwu
98. CJ McCollum
99. Jalen Suggs
100. Toumani Camara