The date was January 17, 2022, Martin Luther King Day, and at a good time Washington and Danny Abdia were put in an early game – against Philadelphia and Joel Ambide. A few hours before the match, Abdia posted a post on his Instagram account in which he wrote “good things take time”, but I, like most of you, probably did not attach too much importance to this sentence. And mostly I did not think there was a connection between the post and the surprise that awaited us on the parquet. Or on the bench more correctly.
In that game, Abdia shared less than three minutes, all on Garbage Time, and no one in the hall really knew what was going on. Not the local journalists I asked, certainly not the stunned fans, no one; Except for her loss. It did take time as promised, and two and a half months after that mess that sparked rumors and reports of a possible trade – good things are happening before our eyes.
I returned tonight (Friday to Saturday) to the Capital One Arena for the first time since that sucks against Philly, and very quickly one could notice a positive change in the Israeli sector. First of all, the question marks among a journalist and Wizards commentators have been replaced by a variety of exclamation marks, or at least three points at the end of the sentence because the feeling is that we have not seen anything yet and Abdia’s future looks brighter day by day.
The first word that came to the table whenever Abdia was the focus of conversation around the reporters was “defense.” After all, the “ticket” in question we referred to even before the beginning of 2021/22. We knew Abdia needed to be associated with a certain element, just as Bradley Bill is associated with points, Cantavius Caldwell pop for shooting and Anthony Gil for hard work, and thankfully that step is behind him. People know that Danny Abdia is a defensive stopper, even those who do not really follow (this is the power of the “ticket”), and now it is possible to dwell on the things that really made him a top 10 pick in the 2020 draft.
In an interview with NBC Washington senior reporter Chase Hughes We talked about Abdia’s recent improvement (averaging 13 points in his last 11 games), and he said: “Wes Ansald Jr. has decided he wants to see more Danny action down a rebound, leading an attacking speed and making decisions.” That we lived.
In relation to its size Abdia is considered a jet. After a year and a half in the NBA in which we almost forgot what his essence is on the hardwood, it is gratifying to see that the token has fallen in the United States capital. Hughes later stressed how important this coming summer is for Abdia, and when he heard about the Israeli’s opportunity to lead for the first time at EuroBasket – he was enthusiastic and promised to cover the event for Wizards fans. By the way, the home of the Israeli team is the Czech Republic and the opening coordinator of Washington, Tomasz Storensky.
It is impossible to talk about the improvement in Abdia’s game without mentioning the word “confidence.” Something was released there, the fear was gone and the impudence returned (this week’s great delivery to Roy Hachimura behind his back is an example). This is what the team’s broadcaster Justin Catcher had to say on the subject: ‘I have never seen a player as dependent on his confidence as Danny Abdia. When Danny plays with confidence he is a completely different player and he knows it. The team has a mental coach who works with him and the other players on this side of the game. ”
And what do the fans think you ask? Well, I got to Washington earlier than usual to have a “crowd survey” (and eat a “shake shack,” he admits), in which I asked local fans four questions:
1. What score do you give for the current season of Abdia?
2. How much does the audience in DC like Abdia?
3. Are you happy with the loss in the ninth place in the draft?
4. Do you think Abdia will be a significant player in the Wizards in the coming years?
The results: The average Wizards score for Abdia’s season is 4 (out of 5), at least 90% of fans said Abdia was one of Washington’s favorite players, the vast majority supported Abdia’s selection while others said it was too early to decide / would prefer another player after him – and now pay attention to the question The latest. Every fan I spoke to, without exception, said that in his opinion Abdia will be a significant part of the Wizards’ future. Want him, support him, give him a back.
When you get to the Capital One Arena, you remember how much power there is behind the phrase “the Israeli representative in the NBA.” It’s not obvious to raise your head and catch an Abdia banner hanging outside a hall in the heart of the US capital a few minutes from the White House, it’s not obvious to see jerseys with the name “Avdija” in the NBA stands and when the orange ball meets the net it’s a blue-and-white carnival on stage The largest the industry has.
Thanks to the last few weeks Abdia has made 14-point games feel standard, and this is a sign of a leap forward that should whet his appetite for the sequel. I get lost on the right path and we all seem to be beginning to understand what needs to be done to make the most of this journey. The hard work and peace of mind – about Danny. Patience – on us.