"You made our lives hell": Deni Avdija opened up in conversation with NBA star

Draymond Green hosted Deni Avdija on the podcast "The Draymond Green Show." Green praised Avdija's physicality and toughness. Avdija spoke about the difficulties of adapting in Portland, about the conversation with coach Chauncey Billups that changed his career, and about his path from a complementary player to a leader in the league.

Draymond Green, star of the Golden State Warriors, hosted Deni Avdija on the podcast "The Draymond Green Show." Green opened with unusual praise, telling Avdija: "Every time we played against you, you made our lives hell. You play aggressively, with a lot of toughness, and you can't be moved easily." Avdija spoke openly about the difficulties of adapting in Portland after the move from Washington, and revealed that one conversation with coach Chauncey Billups was the turning point: "He told me to focus on one central thing and not try to do everything at once. Once I listened to that advice, everything became much more comfortable." Green praised the path Avdija has taken from a complementary player to a leader who carries a team. Avdija concluded: "I learned not to look for shortcuts, but to trust the daily work and the people who believe in me."