Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija has been turning heads in the NBA lately, but not just for his basketball skills. The 25-year-old has been busting out Cristiano Ronaldo's famous 'Siuuu' celebration during games, and he's finally explained why.
After helping his team demolish the Indiana Pacers 131-111, Avdija opened up about his tribute to the Al-Nassr superstar. The Israeli player put up solid numbers with 18 points, five rebounds, and eight assists in the win.
"My dream was to be a soccer player," Avdija admitted to reporters. He explained that bringing anything from the football world into basketball is a real pleasure for him. Growing up, he watched Ronaldo religiously and wanted to channel that same energy.
What started as a bit of fun has now become Avdija's signature move. "At first I was just doing it for fun. I didn't realize they were recording me all the time," he laughed. Now he does it deliberately to bring good vibes to the locker room and give his teammates something to smile about.
The Siuuu Legacy Spreads Beyond Football
Ronaldo first unleashed the 'Siuuu' celebration back in 2013 during a Real Madrid pre-season friendly against Chelsea in Miami. Since then, it's become one of the most recognizable celebrations in all of sports.
Football stars like Kylian Mbappe and Rasmus Hojlund have copied it on the pitch. Now Avdija joins NBA giant Giannis Antetokounmpo and tennis ace Carlos Alcaraz in bringing the celebration to other sports entirely.
For Blazers fans and bettors keeping an eye on Portland's form, Avdija's positive energy and team chemistry could be worth watching. His playmaking ability (eight assists in this game) makes Portland more unpredictable and harder to defend.
Ronaldo's Business Impact at Almeria
Meanwhile, Ronaldo's influence continues to grow off the pitch too. His recent 25% stake purchase in Spanish second-division club Almeria is already paying dividends in the digital world.
Almeria gained a whopping 500,000 Instagram followers the day the deal was announced. They now sit at 3.26 million followers, making them the fifth most-followed Spanish club on the platform. Only Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Sevilla have more.
The Andalusian side currently sits second in LaLiga 2 and looks well-positioned for promotion. For those betting on the Spanish second tier, Almeria's momentum both on and off the field makes them an interesting proposition as the season progresses.
