https://nba.sport5.co.il/articles.aspx?FolderID=403&docID=409160An interview in Israeli official sports media with Drew Hanlen about Deni's potential and process & why he chosed to train him.
Amidst all the workload alongside the biggest stars in the world, do you sometimes manage to look back on your path and figure out where you are today at 32?"Not so much. One thing I do not have in life is free time, I work around the clock. What does my normal day look like? I arrive at the hall at 07:00, stay there until 15:00, today for example I worked with 13 NBA players, and then I go home and watch the video. Then I talk in 'Face-time' with the players, share my insights and there are times we go back to the hall and continue working that evening. Plus I do more things, I have my own girlfriend and I write a book, but as they say "You must not complain when there is too much food on the plate. I enjoy the hard work, I prayed for years to be where I am today."
A lot of NBA players want to work with you, but your time is limited and you pick them with tweezers. How does your "selection" works and what made you take Avdija under your care?"I limit the number of players I work with because it's a process that requires a lot. In the case of Avdija the Wizards management contacted me, I'm very close to them thanks to Bradley Beal who is also my first trainee, I work with him since he was 13. I knew before that how much Deni talented but I also knew he could play basketball better. I talked to Washington and his agents, who also approached me, and saw in front of me an opportunity to change the beginning of his NBA career.
In his first two seasons in the league Deni paid a high 'tuition' that required him to make adjustments to his game, but I feel this summer was the best time for him to get a wake-up call from me. He will be able to make a leap."
Once you've received the application regarding Avdija, did you immediately agree to coach him or did it take you a while to make the decision?"It took me a while to get an answer, I had a few conversations with people close to Deni to understand how he is as a person. I talked to the Wizards management, his teammates, people I knew who knew him and Israeli development coach Yogev Bardugo. I wanted to know everything about Avdija as a player and as a person, and I felt he was one of those players who had not yet realized their great potential. I wanted to wake him up so that he could become a player that everyone thinks he can be."
What did Beal tell you about Avdija?"That he was never pushed or trained properly. He also told me that Deni has a lot of potential and that he can become a great player, but for that to happen he needs to improve his shooting and be more mentally stable."
Have you followed Avdija even before you guys started working together?"I haven't missed a single game in Beal's career, so I saw a lot of Avdija, but I did not watch it live in the second half of last season because Beal was injured. I really wanted Deni to be the aggressive player again with confidence, playing strong on the floor and Improving his shooting off the arc because in modern basketball if you can space the offense you will get more minutes, that's the biggest key for him. In addition, I wanted him to know how to make his size and athleticism an advantage on both sides of the court."
How much training did you and Avdija have?"We trained for three consecutive weeks, now he is in Israel for the games with the team and I hope that after that we will continue the work in the United States with a few more weeks before the season starts."
Avdija is still talking to you while he is in Israel? Does he keep asking you questions and learning from a distance?"Yes. I sent him some training, so he is working on them together with one of the Wizards's coaches who flew with him to Israel, and at the same time he will train with the team."
Which NBA players worked together with Avdija?"Tyler Hero was also here at the time, but Deni worked mostly with Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana) and Kelly Oubre Jr (Charlotte)."
How did Avdija get along with the fact that Haliburton selected after him in the 2020 draft? It seems that every basketball fan would agree that Haliburton should have been chosen higher than where he was chosen (12) ..."The truth is I only discovered this story between them two weeks into training, and from that moment on I started a 'trash talk' with Tires non-stop. Deni got along with him and all the players excellently, he's such a nice person. I'm actually told him he's too nice and I want him There's more 'maniac' and self-confidence on the floor. I also started 'trash talk' with him, I told him all sorts of nonsense that would build and strengthen him. To be a good development coach in the NBA you need to know which buttons to press, and there were days when Deni hated me "But I told him, 'Hate me now, thank me later.'"
From what you've seen and heard, how do senior NBA players view Avdija?"It was hard for me to see that we are at a very early stage of the summer, the competitive games between the players only start at the end of July-beginning of August. I have not heard what is being said about Deni."
What did you focus on in training with Avdija?"First of all - the shooting. We made some small changes in Deni's technique to make his shot more fluid and clean. Many times he would release the ball and not bend his wrist enough, and at the same time he would lean back in the shot instead of jumping more forward with momentum. We also focused on his penetration and extension in the ring area. We still have a lot of work to do in the left penetration, but overall Deni is definitely on the right track, especially when it comes to improved shooting."
What impressed you the most during the training?"I really liked seeing how he improved his mental toughness in three weeks. He was able to cope with the fatigue and take himself to new levels emotionally and mentally."
To the Israeli public, it seems that before his move to the NBA, Avdija felt much more comfortable dunking on other players, as he did in the Euroleague against Gigi Datuma. Now can one expect the same approach in the best league in the world?"I would love to see it. As I said, Deni keeps working on his penetration, he's on the right track. He's so athletic, and I told him he must take advantage of it. The main thing I tried to do was improve his mental aspect, and I definitely think That Deni will take another step in the right direction in the NBA."
What most surprised you about Avdija during training?"There were not too many surprises, I did my homework, but the only thing that surprised me was Avdija's modesty. Before Deni entered the league some scouts said he was arrogant, but I felt he was the complete opposite. I want to see him more confident in himself. I don't Know if he lost it early in his career in the NBA or just got a little older, but I felt he was the nicest person ever. I told him I could not wait until he'll be more 'maniac' (Trash-talk player / Pat Bev kind of player
) on the floor so we could take his game one step further."
Last season Avdija's shooting was less than 32 percent from three, the lowest figure in the NBA among the small forwards who scored at least 82 three-pointers. What percentage should he aim for in the coming season?"I'm sure he will improve his shooting from the outside. If he goes up to 36% it will be a huge jump and any figure higher than that will be an incredible success. I do not want to put a number in front of his eyes, the most important thing for me is that his technique is correct. They will come alone."
In one of the videos posted on the networks we saw Avdija taking threes more "deep" (far), something we have seen less of so far. Is this an element you emphasized?"Yes, I want him to be a more versatile slinger. He can score from different areas on the court, after a dribble or after a delivery. Most days we threw and threw until his hands fell. Then I gave him a short rest, then I told him to throw again until his hands really they were unable to release the ball. Results require hours upon hours that you do not see outward, and Deni was willing to invest that time. Now the goal is simply to keep working."
At the work level, is there a certain resemblance between Avdija and any of the other stars you work with?"Not really, each player is different from the other and improves in a different way. It was the first time in Avdija's career that they really pushed him to the edge physically, mentally and emotionally. I think he reacted excellently and over time with me he improved his reaction."
What should be Avdija's personal goals for the 2022/23 season?"The percentage of three needs to improve and so does his effort on the floor. Avdija needs to be a top five player in the NBA and he needs to earn the trust of the coaches and players next to him. Right now Washington is raising Avdija off the bench, but if he continues to do his he will have a place in the line-up. The main goal is that they will trust him in money-time when the game is at stake."
Looking to the future, do you plan to continue working with Avdija or was it something one-off for the summer of 2022?"I will definitely continue to work with Deni, I really like him. I know he has a lot of room for improvement and in three weeks it is impossible to do too much. I believe this is the beginning of a particularly enjoyable journey."
In an interview here with the Wizards reporter before Avdija's debut in the NBA, the vast majority claimed he would be an All-Star in this league. Is this something that the Israeli audience can still dream about?"I do not want to put expectations on his shoulders. The most important thing is that he will work hard and become a master in his own work outside the parquet. Then he will have to become a master in all his elements on the parquet, and then we will see how far he will go. I love Deni as a player, I love Deni as a person and I know he can show a lot more than he has shown so far. I think a lot of people will be pleasantly surprised by Avdija's improvement in the coming years. Fans like to jump to conclusions early on, but I would like them to look at his improvement graph. In time they will love the player that Deni will become."
After two years in the NBA, you can't put your finger on what kind of player Avdija is - is he a "3 and D", is he a "playmaker", etc. Do you like players who know how to do a little bit of everything or do you prefer to see Avdija focus on a more specific role on the floor?"At the end of the day Avdija is a basketball player. If he earns the trust of his team he will spend time on the floor and contribute to every aspect of the game. Deni needs to focus on being a winning player who does everything to get Washington to the playoffs and win the playoffs. The main thing is that you will influence the victory."
How do you really see Avdija contributing to victories in Washington's new roster?"We'll have to wait and see. Avdija has to keep working hard and if he improves his shooting and his effort in every position on both sides of the floor - I think he'll really like the season he'll have."
As you know the NBA is a league of opportunities, especially at the age of Avdija. Do you think at Washington he can develop and fulfill his potential?"Yes. Trust me - I worked full time with Beal and he wants to win in Washington. He wants to get as much help as possible so everyone is in favor of Deni and everyone wants him to fulfill the potential we all know he has."
Sorry if i had mistakes in translation guys.
