Former No. 1 pick aims to 'change the narrative' surrounding him this season
Deandre Ayton's career hasn't taken off the way most expected after the Phoenix Suns selected him first overall in 2018, but the 24-year-old is determined to turn things around.
Ayton, who was drafted ahead of All-Stars Luka Dončić, Jaren Jackson Jr., Trae Young and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has dealt with plenty of adversity in his early years. Aside from being the center of trade talks and his difficult relationship with his former HC Monty Williams, Ayton has been subjected to harsh criticism over his performance and effort.
Now that he has a new coach and a star-studded supporting cast that includes Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, Ayton is ready to finally move forward. During a recent interview with Eyewitness News Bahamas, Ayton opened up about the public's perception of him and how he intends to "change the narrative" surrounding him this season.
"I can feel the whole world hating me in a way," Ayton admitted. "I'm the guy a lot of people point at and I see it and feel it, but mainly what I've been working on five to six days a week since we've lost is just motivating myself to change the narrative of what people think about me.”
"No matter how you put it, I feel like I have no fans out there and I can feel it because the whole world is saying it," Ayton continued. "My goal over the summer is to change the narrative. Just unlock whatever it is and just completely just focus on me and change the whole thing."
In the playoffs, Ayton came under fire for standing under the basket while watching Denver's Nikola Jokić grab multiple offensive rebounds on one possession during Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Then, his decision to sit out Game 6 of Phoenix's series against Denver due to a rib contusion drew further criticism.
Denver ultimately beat Phoenix 125-100 in that game, eliminating the Suns from the postseason.
While it might be difficult to convince doubters that he has matured from the unfavorable image he portrayed against the Nuggets, Ayton is in an ideal position to redeem himself. Statically, Ayton is as consistent as any, evident by his 18 points and 10 rebounds per game in 2022-23, the fifth time in as many seasons that he averaged a double-double.
Although his scoring should decline since he'll be sharing the court with three ball-dominant players, as long as Ayton proves he's capable of contributing to team success, fans will have a much more positive opinion of him.
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