Deni Avdija Breaks Silence on Heated Altercation With Stephon Castle

Deni Avdija and Stephon Castle (Photo by Imagn Images)

Deni Avdija Breaks Silence on Heated Altercation With Stephon Castle

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Kenny Nosay | Last updated Apr 27, 2026 1:54 AM ET

Things got chippy near the end of the Spurs-Blazers game between Deni Avdija and Stephon Castle.

Victor Wembanyama surprisingly suited up in game four for the Spurs after missing game three. For the Blazers, facing Wemby or not, this was a must-win game. Blazers star Deni Avdija wants to play well after struggling in their last outing. But things did not go well for Portland. Plus, he was given a tech after Castle shoved the ball at him with more than a couple of minutes remaining with the Spurs up big.

And he went on a lengthy tirade against Castle when asked about the incident.

“I have a lot of respect for him, but the thing at the end with shoving the ball in my chest is unnecessary. I don’t play those games. That’s not who I am. You can be physical, but there’s a level of disrespect I’m not going to accept. He’s done a lot of provocation throughout the whole game. At one point, it was just disrespectful,” Deni Avdija said postgame.

Deni Avdija on the Castle altercation

“I have a lot of respect for him but the thing at the end with shoving the ball in my chest is unnecessary. I don’t play those games. That not who I am. You can be physical but there’s a level of disrespect I’m not going to accept. He’s… https://t.co/66u6CXffrD pic.twitter.com/Z4HILjObMh
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) April 26, 2026

Castle did not need to shove the ball at Deni Avdija after scoring. Of course, with the Blazers surrendering a 17-point lead, the team was already upset with itself. San Antonio won big over Portland, 114-93.

Deni Avdija’s Warning Before Facing The Spurs Fell Flat

Even though the Blazers are just the seventh seed, they knew they had what it takes to compete. Even Deni Avdija was confident of his team’s chances against the younger Spurs squad. However, after their loss in game four, the team might need to play at a high level to extend their season in the rest of the series.

Deni Avdija (Image Credits: Imagn)

The Blazers have the tools for an upset, but they are missing a key piece in this series – Damian Lillard. The veteran guard has not played this season, but there have been hints of his possible return. Would a Lillard appearance help Deni Avdija and the team prolong this series? That’s a hard question to answer.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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