Even NBA legends can miss a rising star on the horizon. Celtics Hall of Famer Paul Pierce recently made a surprising admission on his show "No Fouls Given," revealing he was completely unaware of Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija until just before this year's All-Star break.

"I didn’t know this guy's name until about a week before the All-Star," Pierce confessed. "Then I was like, alright, he’s an All-Star, who’s this kid? And I know his name now. You got to earn your name in this league."

Avdija has done exactly that. After four steady seasons with the Washington Wizards, the 2019 ninth overall pick exploded in his second year with Portland, earning his first All-Star nod with career-best numbers. His breakout has been central to the Trail Blazers' remarkable turnaround from a struggling franchise to a playoff team.

Pierce's initial ignorance underscores just how meteoric Avdija's ascent has been. The Celtics legend, however, is now a believer, calling Avdija "a true threat in this league." The young star proved that point emphatically in his playoff debut, dropping 41 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds to lead Portland to a thrilling Play-In Tournament victory over the Phoenix Suns.

As the seventh-seeded Blazers prepare to face the San Antonio Spurs, all eyes will be on Avdija. Whether his team advances or not, one thing is clear: after a season of earning it, his name is now known by everyone—legends included.