The 2021/22 season in the NBA will kick off tonight (Tuesday to Wednesday), and the eyes of the Israeli audience will once again be married to our man - Danny Abdia.
The Guard and his friends at the Washington Wizards will be on the floor for the first time officially only Wednesday-Thursday night, when they will be hosted in Toronto by the Raptors and tonight Abdia participated in a special tour to tell about his feelings for his second season, rookie season and post-injury rehabilitation .
"Everyone is trying to help me and giving me advice and I listen to every word they say. We have gone through a good preparation period, I feel ready and look forward to a good season opener," Abdia began.
"We have good players on the team, we move the ball excellently, bring energy from the bench and always try to play better."
On his ambitions for the second season: "The people around me who love me keep telling me I need to understand that things take time. I expected the first practice to be better than before the injury, but it's not something that happens right away. It will happen, but it's a process. I have to work hard "Slowly and patiently to get better day by day and that's what I'm trying to do. My first goal is for the team to succeed, I want to be the first Israeli in the playoffs and get as far as possible, even if it means coming from the bench and not the top five, that's fine."
What did he do in the summer?
(In Hebrew) Mostly recovery ... spending time at home ... he spent most of the summer in DC.
"I worked."
He did not have the most fun in the world, but he got his rest in.
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- Louis Keene (@thislouis) October 19, 2021
On the rehabilitation from the injury: "I underwent a long and simple rehabilitation I worked. There were guys from the team who helped me work, strengthen my ankle and get back in shape, so it was not a fun summer, but I wanted to feel even more prepared than last season and sacrificed my freedom for it. "I'm an aggressive guy, but I need time to get back to myself because I'm still in the process of coming back with my body. Six months is a long time to be out, rest assured the aggressiveness remains."
On the team exercising the option on him and extending his contract: "I am never quiet, even when I played for Maccabi Tel Aviv I was always hungry for more. You always want to progress as a player and within the system, to be better and improve myself and not rest for a moment, I am always ready to work Hard".
🎥Vail on Abdia: "The game is slowing down for him. We want to integrate him more on both sides of the pitch. Challenge him on defense because he has the size to keep 3-4 players diverse. On offense the ball will be more on him. I just got a little down on him to be more aggressive. Happy "He's healthy. Hopefully he's off to a good second season - I'll be there to push him."
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- Washington Wizards 🇮🇱 (@washwizardsil) October 19, 2021
On connecting with the new coaching staff: "There's more fluency in basketball and the ball is more fluid, these are things we touch on. The best form of basketball in my opinion is to move the ball and make sure everyone touches it, it's something we focus on. Our second quintet comes with energies, "Moves the ball and sometimes we also give the ball to the one who catches a day. The energy and movement of the ball in the attack is something we try to keep."
Wes Ansald Jr., Photo: EP
Wes Ansald Jr., Abdia's new coach, said of the Israeli: "I watched him for the last two months and he is a better player, he shows progress and that is a positive thing. I think he has more room to grow. He is not worried about his amount of minutes and we look at him as A guy we can move forward with, we expect from him and know his potential is high. I think he has the ability to play as a playmaker. This season his role will be more significant and I want him to be able to take part in the deciding minutes too, but he is not there yet "There and I want him to get the ball more. I saw him do it in training and he may be a little frustrated by his shots at the moment, but he is improving on offense and training excellently."
Jr. added: "This season we will use him more significantly. He can play as a ball carrier and he will get this opportunity. I think it is important that he grows up and improves the game. He is a talented kid who really wants to get better and be better. I appreciate his efforts "He worked very hard this summer and joined us a little late because of the injury and now he is filling in gaps. I have nothing bad to say about his energies and desire, he asks questions and wants to practice things well beyond training hours."
