Suns big man Deandre Ayton hopes to 'change the narrative'
Former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton has simply not lived up to expectations, especially considering he was part of a draft class featuring Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Trae Young.
Ayton's disappointing play these past two playoff runs with the Phoenix Suns has really put him in the spotlight, particularly after the addition of Bradley Beal — making the Suns the new powerhouse in the Western Conference.
"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 said.
He added, "My goal over this summer is to change the narrative."
He has a long way to go, especially with Suns fans.
Arizona Sports radio host Dan Bickley said, "This is more of a case of self-pity than an epihoney, more childlike than newfound maturity."
Continuing to call Ayton a potential false promise, Bickley added, "If you don't know what you are trying to unlock, that's a problem."
It's undeniable that Ayton is a talented offensive player, but his effort seems to wane, leaving you uncertain of what to expect on a nightly basis.
He hasn't averaged over 10 rebounds in the playoffs since 2021. Despite showing that he is capable (in the 2021 postseason he averaged 11.8 boards per game!), the issue boils down his consistency and level of effort: two areas where Ayton continues to fall short.
Take a look at this clip from Game 3 of the West semis against the Denver Nuggets where Ayton really showed his capabilities on the glass:
So yes, Ayton can do it — sometimes it seems he simply opts out.
Atyon's field goal percentage saw a significant 9 percent drop these past playoffs, plummeting from 64 percent in 2022 to 55 percent. His player efficiency rating (PER) touched a career low of 13.9. In essence, it was a disaster.
On the defensive end, he's morphed into a complete liability. He struggles in pick-and-roll situations and lacks the ability to repeatedly counter anyone on the block. Alarmingly, Ayton's stocks (steals + blocks) per game have progressively declined since his second season, matching his career-low from last season at 1.4.
To compound matters, the Suns roster is now void of a true, quintessential point guard following the trades of Chris Paul and Cameron Payne. This somewhat will eradicate the two-man pick-and-roll game that is an integral part of Ayton's offensive bag. The acquisition of Beal, another three-level scorer, further pushes Ayton down to totem pole.
Will he able to adjust? If Ayton's offensive involvement further diminishes, how else can he contribute and remain effective?
The answer: Rebounding! Ayton needs to have the best rebounding season of his career to really "change the narrative."
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