The special relationship between Russell Westbrook and Danny Abadia, who played together for the Washington Wizards two years ago in the Israeli's first season in the NBA, received an extensive review in the British "Athletic" during the weekend ahead of the meeting between Washington and the Los Angeles Lakers to be held this Monday.
"He really cared about me. He cared that I would succeed and he wanted me to be mentally strong," Avdia said.
"Every time he sees me, he gives me advice or tells me what I need to improve, and I like that. He has a lot of influence on me, because he was the first veteran star I met when I got to the NBA."
In the article, we noted that despite a 13-year difference in age, and the fact that the point guard who was previously crowned MVP and appeared nine times in the All-Star Game grew up in South Carolina, compared to Avdia, who is only in his third season in the league and grew up in Israel, personality-wise the two have common denominators that the American recognized early on: "He is a special child" , Westbrook said, "Of course he played professional basketball before we signed him, but you could see his potential. Since I've been in the league, when I see someone with potential, I try to help him the best way I can and know. He's a good kid."
The center was there for Avdia when the latter not only started his debut season in the best league in the world, but also moved to a new country when he was only 19 years old.
Washington assistant coach Ryan Richman recalled: "Russ is one of the best leaders I've seen and been around, he makes everyone hold themselves to high standards. So with Danny, Roy Hachimura and those guys, he was amazing. Sometimes he was the biggest critic theirs, but at the same time also the biggest fan. He did a good job of knowing when to pick them up and when to be hard on them."
The two in the first meeting of the season, photo: AP
Anthony Gill, one of the only remnants left in the group from that season, said: "Every time Danny needed tough love, Russ gave him tough love, because many times Danny is not completely focused. And when Danny was in such moments, Russ would immediately try to wake him up, but then He would get on the bus and act like the best friend. 'Let's go to dinner, let's do something,' things like that. It was a different kind of bond, he was really on it all year."
The Israeli reinforced the words and added: "I'm glad I had a tough mentor like him in my first year. It helped me absorb a lot of things, strengthened me mentally and made me stay ready in every game during the season. That's why I love him."
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