The team has been shorthanded the last two games after Devin Booker suffered a hamstring during the front end of their back-to-back against the New Orleans Pelicans. However, their center DeAndre Ayton, believes Phoenix has no excuse for getting outplayed the way they have during this latest stretch of games.

“The teams we see on film aren’t the teams we play,” Ayton said per NBA Central. “They’re playing harder and with a chip on their shoulder against us.”

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Their two contests with the Pelicans have raised concerns amongst Phoenix fans that the momentum that helped the Suns rise to first place in the Western Conference has halted. Zion Williamson dropped 35 points on a combined 71.1 percent shooting from the field. In the second matchup, CJ McCollum’s posted 29 points and seven assists in 45 minutes to New Orleans get the overtime victory.

Although Ayton credits the efforts of their opponents, the Suns have to answer the reason their defense has gone downhill. They currently have the worst defensive rating (122.4) over five games and have been unable to secure the boards, averaging the lowest defensive rebounds (28.4) across the League during that same stretch.

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Opponents have dominated the painted area against the Suns too, and their next three matchups are against teams finding their form offensively. The Los Angeles Clippers with the return of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Williamson and the Pelicans once more, and finally, the Los Angeles Lakers with Anthony Davis, who has averaged 33.8 points (third best) so far in December.

The Suns can’t afford to lose games in a stacked Western Conference. With the year coming to a close, Chris Paul and Ayton’s leadership must be on full display to regain momentum near the All-Star break.

The post DeAndre Ayton: Opponents Are ‘Playing Harder and With a Chip On Their Shoulders’ Against the Suns appeared first on SLAM.

After Lakers guard Austin Reaves tried to lay the ball up strong against Suns star shooting guard Devin Booker, Reaves was met with a block from Booker, and it seemed like a bit of trash talk added to it. As the whistle was blown and the next possession was about to commence, Reaves was just about to roll over and get up off the hardwood when Suns center Deandre Ayton stood over him and seemed to have some words for Reaves as well.

Then like lightning out of a bottle, Patrick Beverley sprinted over to Reaves and shoved Ayton from behind to the ground. That is when everybody on the court comes together; there are more words, some pushing, and shoving, but that’s just basketball. After things calmed down, the refs gave Booker a flagrant 1 foul and ejected Beverley from the game.

The Suns went on to win 115-105; then, in a postgame interview with NBA on TNT, Booker had a message to send to Beverley. Booker was asked what he thought about how everything unfolded during that heated moment in the game,

“It was more than it was supposed to be. Pat need to stop pushing people in the back, man; push ’em in the chest. That’s all I gotta say.”

Patrick Bev also spoke to the media following the game and had a lot to say following his ejection via ESPN.

“Got a person on the ground, two people looking over mean-mugging and puffing their chest out, and referees don’t get into it to kind of separate it, control the game, so I’m going to stand up for my teammate. I’m not going for that s—. Obviously, it’s unfortunate that it happened on national tv, but you know me. Regardless of what’s going on, I’m a big fan of protecting my teammates. I’m a foxhole guy. I put on my jersey, and I commit to the team, I commit to the city, and it’s kind of my motto. I’m a foxhole guy. Very unfortunate situation, though.”

Reaves also commented on the situation postgame, saying that he told Beverly that he appreciated him five times afterward.

“He’s a team player,” said Reaves. “He rocks with who he rocks with. Whoever is on his team, you respect him. You love him. You’re glad he’s on your team. When he’s not, he’s a pest, does all that stuff, all those little things. But I just respect him for who he is and standing up for me.”

Suns coach Monty Williams also shared his thoughts postgame saying;

“It’s just happening too many times. I just think the league needs to look at those kind of plays. They’re just unnecessary. There was obviously some tension, but with us, it’s happening too many times. You know, when you push a guy when he’s not looking like that, that’s not called for. There’s going to be physicality; there’s going to be tension in games; that’s just the nature of basketball.”

The final person to give their take on the situation was Ayton, who simply said;

“He ain’t hurt me, he didn’t take nothing out my pocket, and I ain’t react.”

The post Lakers and Suns Comment on Heated Exchange Between Deandre Ayton and Patrick Beverley appeared first on SLAM.

Whether a player says it or not, going against a former team is always a big deal. However, it is an even bigger deal to make history against them. With about 10:50 left in the first quarter, Paul threw up a lob that Deandre Ayton slammed home to give Paul the 11,000th assist in his career!

With that assist, Paul now sits in the company of two other elite point guards, Jason Kidd and John Stockton, who are the only three players in the NBA to accomplish this feat. Record-wise, Stockton is still the all-time NBA assist leader with 15,806, followed by Kidd with 12,091, and CP3 with 11,009.

“I honestly didn’t have a clue until I checked out of the game,” Paul said when asked when he found out about his historic achievement.

Paul then went on to credit a few of his teammates.

“I’ve been fortunate to play for a while now with a lot of great shooters, great players in general,” Paul then reeled a couple of names such as David West, Peja Stojakovic, and Devin Booker. “I’m privileged.”

Suns Coach Monty Williams even chimed in on Paul’s historic night.

“It’s amazing, I look at him, and I’m like, ‘holy smokes, I get to coach Chris Paul.'”

In addition, Paul is now the only NBA player in history to have over 20k points and 11k assists. That is a record fit for a true Point God. It is about time we gave Paul his flowers and credit for playing the point guard position with such finesse, craftiness, and humbleness. Shout out to CP3! We are all looking forward to seeing how far Phoenix can go with such a great vet on their squad.

The post Chris Paul Becomes the First Player in NBA History to Record 20k Points and 11k Assists appeared first on SLAM.

The Suns brought back Ayton by matching his agreement on a massive contract with the Indiana Pacers this past summer. The deal made him the third highest-paid center at 30 million dollars, behind Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. The Suns were hesitant to extend their 2018 first-overall pick last summer because they reportedly believed they could get a similar player at a better price.

Although the Suns and Ayton agreed on a massive deal, Ayton seemed aloof to the teams’ commitment to him. When reporters asked him about the deal, he said, “I’m here,” When he was asked if he was happy in Phoenix, Ayton added, “I’m alright.” Ayton also revealed that he hasn’t spoken with Coach Monty Williams since he was benched in Game 7 of their semifinal series against the Dallas Mavericks for “internal reasons.”

“I haven’t spoken to Monty,” Ayton said definitively. “I haven’t spoken to him at all. Ever since the game.”

When Ayton was asked what he would say to Williams, he said the following.

“I can show him better than I could tell him,” Ayton said.

Asked if he’s happy here in Phoenix, DA said “Yeah, I’m all right.”

Asked what he’d want to say to Monty, he replied, “I can show him better than I can tell him.”

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) September 27, 2022

When Williams was asked about what the apparently disgruntled Ayton said, the reigning Coach of the Year said he hasn’t spoken to a lot of guys over the summer.

“As I said earlier this summer, they needed a break from me, the gym,” Williams said. “Unless you are in the gym, like every day I’ve had interactions with everybody but talking to guys about deep stuff, there’s a number of guys I haven’t talked to. I think when you’ve been around our group as much as we have the last three years with (the) first year, the bubble, condensed seasons, I felt like guys needed a break; even when guys were in the gym, I wouldn’t come downstairs just cause I wanted them to get a break from me.”

“I haven’t talked to a lot of guys.”

Monty Williams addressing Deandre Ayton saying the two haven’t talked since Game 7. #Suns pic.twitter.com/hDSFVuRAiK

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) September 27, 2022

In the 58 games he played last season, Ayon averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 63.4 percent shooting from the field.

Ayton and Williams will have a chance to hash out any problems they have as training camp rolls along. Their harmony will help determine the success of the franchise this season.

The post DeAndre Ayton Reveals He and Coach Monty Williams Haven’t Spoken Since Game 7 appeared first on SLAM.

Exclusive interview with @DeandreAyton on re-signing with the Suns with @espn @andscape as well as insight on how he felt after the #Pacers offer sheet he signed was matched. Also words from #Suns GM James Jones and head coach Monty Williams on Ayton https://t.co/Lj02W9cjN8 #nba

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 19, 2022

Not only is the contract going to gurantee generational wealth, according to Ayton, but the negotiations Ayton and his reps went through also became a lesson about the business of basketball.

It’s been a tough couple summers for the former Arizona Wildcat, PHX and Ayton’s reps couldn’t agree to an extension last summer, then multiple reports came out saying the franchise thought they could find Ayton in other centers, Ayton was benched during Game 7 for “internal” reasons according to Coach Monty Williams, but GM James Jones said he wanted to re-sign Ayton.

“This is a blessing,” Ayton told ESPN’s Andscape. “This contract not only has generational impact for my family, but also with the way we are able to work in the Phoenix community and home in the Bahamas. That is the things that we go by …

“I’ve come to understand that this is a business. So, I was more anxious to know the end of the result so I could focus, move on and just get back to work. I just treated everything like a business. Just keep being professional, approach everything with professionalism and not looking too deep into it.”

With Ayton know locked in with the Suns for the next four seasons, he says his happy that the “process is over” with. The offer sheet Phoenix matched that Ayton signed saved Phoenix approximately $43 millions and an extra contract year. Both Williams and Jones said they were happy to have Ayton back in the fold to build off their franchise record 64-18 season.

“I just told him, I’m happy for him,” Jones said. “I’m proud of him for how he handled it and how he approached it. I’m just excited for what his next steps look like. He’s motivated to continue to improve, and we’re motivated to help him reach that level. And if he can reach that level, we’re a great team, an even better team. We’re already a good team. We’re already a great team, but we’re even better.”

“James and myself, we talk a lot and he’ll let me know what’s going on with the contract and ask for my opinion,” Williams added. “I try to stay out of persuading him when it comes to him making decisions. But we knew any offer that he got, we were going to match — I’m happy for Deandre just because I know this is what he wanted. He wants to be in that class of players that’s regarded in this way. So, from that standpoint, I think as a competitor, that’s what you want. When you see a guy working for that, that part is pretty cool.”

Ayton averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 63.4 percent shooting from the field.

The post Deandre Ayton ‘Happy’ After Re-Signing With Phoenix Suns appeared first on SLAM.

As soon as the Suns received the four-year, $133M offer sheet, the franchise matched it. Deandre Ayton returns to Phoenix and can't be traded without his consent for a full year. https://t.co/dBXGN3qbCK

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 15, 2022

Deandre Ayton has reportedly signed a four-year max offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

RFA center Deandre Ayton has agreed to a four-year, $133M maximum offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, his agents Nima Namakian (Innovate Sports) and Bill Duffy (BDA Sports + WME Sports) tell ESPN. The Phoenix Suns have 48 hours to match the largest offer sheet in NBA history.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2022

Ayton’s agent, Nima Namakian, negotiated the largest offer sheet in League history for Ayton to head to Indiana. Free agency talks between Ayton’s reps and the Suns’ front office have been up and down after multiple reports said that Phoenix thought they could find another center that offered what Ayton could do on the court. Phoenix reportedly sent him a qualifying offer on the eve of free agency.

Last summer, the two parties couldn’t agree on a deal to keep Ayton on Phoenix. Since then, GM James Jones publicly stated he was confident that Phoenix could bring Ayton back to the fold. Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic subsequently reported that multiple teams were interested in acquiring Ayton before Indiana emerged as the favorite to sign him in May.

Woj further reported that Phoenix seemed unlikely to want to send Ayton to Indiana via sign-and-trade but is likely to match the offer that the Pacers extended. The Suns have 48 hours before deciding on matching the largest offer sheet in NBA history. If they do, Phoenix could trade Ayton as soon as January 15.

So far, Suns haven’t shown an interest in negotiating a sign-and-trade on Ayton with the Pacers, but the expectation remains that Phoenix will match the record-$133M offer sheet once it’s signed, sources tell ESPN. Suns could trade Ayton as soon as Jan. 15 once sheet is matched.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2022

Ayton averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 63.4 percent shooting from the field.

The post REPORT: Deandre Ayton Signs Max Offer Sheet With Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

In an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up” Windhorst said the Pacers are “very close” to either offering Ayton a contract or executing a sign-and-trade and could sign Ayton as soon as Monday. 

The Pacers had to officially trade two-way point guard Malcolm Brogdon to Boston to create enough cap space for Ayton. Windhorst says that since the Brogdon trade is “on the verge” of being approved, the Pacers now can offer Ayton a max contract or negotiate a sign-and-trade with the Suns.

Pacers center Myles Turner, who’s been at the center of trade talks throughout multiple offseasons, would likely be a trade piece if Indiana were to pull off a sign-and-trade for Ayton. On June 28, Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said that the team was not actively shopping Turner, but Windhorst’s reporting suggests otherwise.

Windhorst appeared on “Get Up” last Thursday to say that the Pacers were looking into sign-and-trades “potentially involving” Turner. 

Ayton posts career averages of 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game on 59.9 percent shooting from the field. In his last two seasons with Phoenix, the former Arizona Wildcat helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals in 2021 and set a franchise record for wins in 2022. Since Ayton is a restricted free agent, the Suns can match any offer the Pacers send Ayton’s way if they wish to retain the former No. 1 overall pick.

The post REPORT: Pacers “Very Close” to Acquiring Deandre Ayton appeared first on SLAM.

The Phoenix Suns have officially tendered a $16.4M qualifying offer to make Deandre Ayton a restricted free agent on July 1, a league source tells @spotrac.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 28, 2022

Ayton is looking for an max extension that’s similar to what Trae Young received last summer. Ayton’s team and Phoenix were unable to come to terms last year, leaving Ayton “disappointed” that they couldn’t strike a deal. Since then, the Phoenix hasn’t made him available in trade talks, and GM James Jones has reiterated that he is confident the Suns will retain Ayton’s services.

Ayton finished the season averaging 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

The post Suns Offer Qualifying Offer to Deandre Ayton appeared first on SLAM.

Without further ado, here is the running NBA Trade Rumor Thread:

7/25:

Shams Charania from The Athletic reports that the Wizards, Raptors, Hornets, Kings, Heat, Hawks and the Knicks have expressed interest in Donovan Mitchell.

Per Charania, the Jazz, Knicks and Paces are also reportedly interested in Russell Westbrook and draft capital from the Lakers.

The Boston Celtics have emerged as a potential suitor for Kevin Durant, reportedly offering up Jaylen Brown as the main piece in the initial trade proposal. However, according to The Athletic, that offer was reportedly rejected. Read more here:

The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly offered Collin Sexton a three year contract in the range of $13.3 million per year for three seasons. Sexton is reportedly “dismayed” with the team’s current offer.

Sexton played 11 games this year before tearing his meniscus.

“Utah had asked about a package involving Mitchell Robinson, and at least 3 first-round picks and the Knicks declined to meet that asking price”@IanBegley with the latest on the Donovan Mitchell trade front, including the Jazz asking for Quentin Grimes in a deal pic.twitter.com/4m1x30mgY5

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) July 15, 2022

REPORT: The Jazz-Knicks deal was “close” on Tuesday night, but the Knicks ended up declining.

The Jazz reportedly wanted Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, Miles McBride, and 6 1st-round picks.

(via @tjonesonthenba) pic.twitter.com/KxUOdLfsZx

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 15, 2022

The Nets asked the TImberwolves for the farm after asking for Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and four draft picks in order to acquire Kevin Durant.

REPORT: The Brooklyn Nets asked the Minnesota Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and 4 draft-picks in exchange for Kevin Durant.

The Timberwolves declined.

(via @chrisbhaynes, @VinceGoodwill) pic.twitter.com/EUdjmDXArD

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 7, 2022

According to Marc J. Spears of Andscape, the Warriors are interested in acquiring Kevin Durant. KD won back-to-back titles in three years with the Dubs. Per multiple reports, the Nets have made it clear that their trading partner will have to give up the farm in order to complete the blockbuster trade. Those acquirements consist of an All-Star level player and multiple draft picks.

Marc J. Spears: Warriors ‘have interest’ in trading for Kevin Durant [report]https://t.co/5lar5wEukf pic.twitter.com/bXGN5CDgPk

— KNBR (@KNBR) July 3, 2022

League sources: For now, there are no plans by the Utah Jazz to trade star guard Donovan Mitchell. The Jazz are committed to building around him. The Jazz are not done in trade talks. Expect more activity

— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) July 1, 2022

The Jazz and Timberwolves have reportedly agreed on a trade to flip Gobert for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverly, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt, and multiple first-round picks, per Woj.

Utah is trading Rudy Gobert to Minnesota, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

The Atlanta Hawks have reportedly shipped Kevin Huerter to Sacramento for Justin Holiday, Mo Harkless, and a 2024 lottery-protected first-round pick per Adrian Wojnarowski.

Atlanta is trading Kevin Huerter to Sacramento for Justin Holiday, Mo Harkless and a future first round pick, sources tell EPSN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Atlanta is trading Kevin Huerter to Sacramento for Justin Holiday, Mo Harkless and a future first round pick, sources tell EPSN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

After KD’s blockbuster trade request was reportedly made official, it seems as though Kyrie Irving is most likely headed out of Brooklyn too. Irving is on the last year of his current deal and listed the Lakers, Clippers, Mavs, Knicks, Heat, and 76ers as his preferred trade destinations.

The latest on Kevin Durant requesting a trade from the Nets from @wojespn.

Join us now on ESPN2 for our NBA Today Free Agency special as we break it all down. pic.twitter.com/dsRBjecW8S

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) June 30, 2022

BREAKING: Kevin Durant has reportedly requested a trade away from the Brooklyn Nets, per his agent Rich Kleiman to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski. Durant has targeted Phoenix and Miami as his preferred destinations, per Woj.

Durant requested a trade with the team today, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/BkNEHwkrc0

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

The Jazz are reportedly trading Royce O’Neal to the Nets for a first-rounder .

Utah is trading Royce O’Neale to Brooklyn for a first-round pick, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

The Bulls are reportedly shopping Coby White, per Sam Amico of Hoopshype.

Bulls Remain Active In Trying To Trade Coby White https://t.co/QblzrfaVuW

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 30, 2022

Amico also reports that Julius Randle could be a name to watch on the trade market as the New York Knicks look to make it back to the playoffs next season.

Julius Randle is a name to watch on the trade market, per @AmicoHoops pic.twitter.com/Zd49mnz72R

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) June 30, 2022

The Wizards are reportedly exchanging Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith for Will Barton and Monte Morris. Should Smith play one game for Denver, it’ll be the record-setting 13th team he’s played for in his career.

Washington is finalizing a trade to acquire Denver’s Will Barton and Monte Morris for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

The Knicks are sending Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks to the Pistons as well as some draft capital in order to free up $30 million in cap space to acquire Jalen Brunson on Thursday.

The Knicks are trading center Nerlens Noel and guard Alec Burks to the Pistons, sources tell ESPN. The Knicks will unload $19M more in salary, clearing the way for cap space to try and sign free agent guard Jalen Brunson.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

The Houston Rockets have reportedly bought John Wall’s contract as of Monday night. The five-time All-Star and the Clippers are reportedly set to reach an agreement once free agency starts, per Adrian Wojnarowski.

ESPN story with @espn_macmahon on John Wall exiting the Houston Rockets with intentions to sign a free agent deal with the LA Clippers: https://t.co/IuLK7oFwP9

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2022

After a successful postseason run, a key piece for Miami may not come back. PJ Tucker is rumored to take a better offer from the Philadelphia 76ers.

The possibility of Kyrie Irving departing from the Brooklyn Nets gains more momentum by the day, as he has been given permission to seek a sign and trade.

John Wall hasn’t played an NBA game for the Houston Rockets since April of 2021, he is willing to agree to a buyout if it comes down to it.

The San Antonio Spurs have been receiving calls about all-star point guard DeJounte Murray, teams that are included are the Knicks, Timberwolves, Wizards, and Hawks. Murray publicly reacted to the rumor on Twitter.

The Cleveland Cavaliers sacrifice pick 49 in exchange for Sasha Vezenkov, who has been a euro-league stash after being picked in the 2017 draft.

The Pistons traded away Jerami Grant for a 2025 first round pick that belongs to the Bucks, read more here:

The Hawks are looking to level up for Trae Young byfinding him a better co-star, read more here:

After not being offered an extension, DeAndre Ayton’s future with the Phoenix Suns looks to be in doubt. Read more here:

The Dallas Mavericks are going all in for Luka Doncic’s win now window by trading for Christian Wood, first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski.

JaMychal Green was sent from the Nuggets in exchange for the Thunder’s No. 30 pick in this upcoming draft, read more here:

The post The NBA Trade Rumor Tracker appeared first on SLAM.

Blazers out on Deandre Ayton, with sights set on other deals, including OG Anunoby. Pacers now may be in mix with Suns. https://t.co/822t9d9Ji1

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 16, 2022

The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly out on Ayton and will instead be in the mix to acquire OG Anunoby. So with the subtraction of the Blazers comes the addition of the Pacers into the mix to talk with the Pacers.

Deandre Ayton addresses contract talks, saying he's "disappointed" a deal hasn't gotten done and he wants to be respected like his peers as ESPN reported last week contract talks were stalled over getting rookie max extension. #Suns pic.twitter.com/XVtj06fojN

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 12, 2021

The “most realistic landing spots” to land Ayton’s services outside Phoenix are Atlanta, Detroit, and Toronto. The three Eastern Conference franchise opportunities can propose enticing sign-and-trade to the Suns front office. According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Indiana could offer a sign-and-trade of Ayton for Myles Turner. The two big men share the same representation.

Ayton finished the season averaging 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 59.9 percent shooting from the field.

The post REPORT: Hawks, Pistons, and Raptors Emerge As Biggest Threats to Land Deandre Ayton appeared first on SLAM.

During Early Bird negotiations last offseason, Ayton and his representatives attempted to negotiate a five-year $170 million extension. Phoenix and Ayton ultimately could not agree to a deal, leaving Ayton “disappointed.” Phoenix reportedly tried to gauge Ayton’s trade value per Jake Fischer, including a deal centered around Domantas Sabonis. 

Deandre Ayton addresses contract talks, saying he’s “disappointed” a deal hasn’t gotten done and he wants to be respected like his peers as ESPN reported last week contract talks were stalled over getting rookie max extension. #Suns pic.twitter.com/XVtj06fojN

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 12, 2021

This offseason, three teams, Atlanta, Detroit, and Portland, have reportedly expressed interest in acquiring Ayton in the open market. Charlotte is also amongst the reported Ayton suitors as well as San Antonio. The Spurs have a similar problem on their hands while they weigh what they want to do with their frontcourt as Jakob Poetl’s contract ends in 2023.

The dynamic around the Suns and Ayton has been shifting recently. Ayton was benched for the entire fourth quarter of the Suns’ Game 7 blowout loss to the Mavericks. When Coach Monty Williams was asked about the benching, he replied: “It’s internal.” Williams was noncommital to Ayton during his exit interview with reporters too, revealing that he and Ayton haven’t spoken since Game 7.

“The Deandre situation is something we’ll deal with this summer,” Ayton said.

Fischer reports that some among the League believe that the Phoenix front office doesn’t view Ayton, or any center, as a player worth a deal greater than $30 million annually. On the coaching end, Fischer reports that Ayton is not a favorite of Williams, particularly of Ayton’s apparent waning focus. During the 2018 NBA Draft process, there were question marks about Ayton’s motor and work ethic.

Four seasons into his career, Ayton has seemingly answered those questions, averaging a career of 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

If Phoenix adds a massive Ayton extension to their already expensive payroll, it will make it much more challenging to re-sign Cam Johnson, who is also due for an extension. According to Fischer, should Phoenix decide to let Ayton walk away, they could engineer a sign-and-trade for a frontcourt replacement. They could also choose to re-sign JaVale McGee or Bismack Biyombo in hopes the two vets can fill the center position by committee.

The post REPORT: Multiple Teams Express Interest in Acquiring Deandre Ayton appeared first on SLAM.

The Suns can match any team’s offer for Ayton or move in a different direction and do a sign-and-trade package deal. However, in an exit interview with the media, GM James Jones addressed how much Ayton has improved this past season.

“Deandre had a great season, a really productive season,” Jones said. “I think across the board, when you look at what he did, he improved. That’s a testament to him and the hard work. That’s what you expect from a player of his caliber.”

Despite battling multiple injuries, Ayton averaged a double-double for a fourth straight season of 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds in 58 games. In this year’s playoffs, Ayton averaged 17.9 points, and 8.9 rebounds before the Suns were eliminated at home in game seven against the Dallas Mavericks.

During Game Seven of the Western Conference semifinal round Ayton was benched after playing 17 minutes due to a reported heated exchange with Monty Williams. Ayton was benched with 8:26 left in the third quarter. Jones addressed this issue as in-game emotions to reporters and said that this is something they will improve from.

“It’s one of those things where you’re playing an emotional game and at an emotional point,” Jones said. “It’s a game of emotions and feelings, and sometimes your feelings get hurt, and you process it, and you move on, but we’re adults. We’re teammates. We’re grown, men. Those things you handle and you move on and improve from.”

Lastly, when asked about free agency, Jones told reporters that he’s looking to keep the guys they have, hinting at a possible Ayton return. Jones has worked in the Suns executive office since 2017 and was a part of the decision to draft Ayton first overall back in 2018.

“As far as free agency and those things, we’ll address them at the proper time,” Jones said. “That happens in July, end of June, but we want to continue to keep our consistency and continuity and keep the guys that we have and continue to help those guys improve upon the things that we did this year.”

The post Suns General Manager James Jones Confident Deandre Ayton Will Return Next Season appeared first on SLAM.

Out of the many Suns player who had a rough Game 7 outing, Deandre Ayton’s performance raised a good deal of questions. In 17 minutes of action, Ayton finished with five points and four rebounds on 2-5 shooting from the field. Ayton’s 6’11 frame and 7’6 wingspan would’ve been an advantage against a Mavericks team that had no answers for a player like Ayton who can score on the inside and dominate the gas.

When Coach Monty Williams was asked about Ayton’s minutes, he gave an answer that led to more questions about Ayton’s future with Phoenix. The former No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft is headed into restricted free agency after his representation, and the Phoenix front office couldn’t agree to a long-term extension. Which reportedly led to some tension between Ayton and the front office.

Monty Williams on Deandre Ayton only playing 17 minutes tonight: “It’s internal.”

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) May 16, 2022

According to multiple reports, Ayton and Williams had a few words after the Suns head coach benched him shortly into the second half. The Suns didn’t come out of the break with the necessary sense of energy, allowing the Mavs to raise their lead to as much as 46 points.

Ayton posted 17.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game this season, but the Suns’ defense didn’t perform at a high level with him on the court (2.3 points per 100 possessions, according to NBC Sports). In the playoffs, Ayton only had a few max contract quality performances, posting 28 points and 17 rebounds in Game 3 of the Suns-Pelicans first-round series and a 25/8 performance in Game 1 of the Suns-Mavs series.

When Devin Booker was about Ayton’s contract negotiations, he didn’t necessarily give his long-time teammate a resounding endorsement or demand that Phoenix re-sign the former Arizona Wildcat.

“His contract situation is between him and the front office. I care about him as a brother. Just making sure his mental is right…whatever happens, happens. Kind of hard to look so far in the future.” – Devin Booker on Deandre Ayton’s contract situation

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) May 16, 2022

The Suns running it back with a similar roster might be the best plan; perhaps add another All-Star level playmaker to help alleviate the pressure off Devin Booker and Chris Paul from having to create shots for their teammates and themselves

Both participants of the 2021 NBA Finals are eliminated from the playoffs after Phoenix and the Milwaukee Bucks lost their respective Game 7s on Sunday.

The post Monty Williams On Why He Benched Deandre Ayton After 17 Minutes: ‘It’s Internal’ appeared first on SLAM.

Booker scored 28 points and secured seven rebounds, including 12 points in the third quarter, and Ayton added 20 and nine rebounds for the Suns. Booker has now scored 840 points in 30 career playoff games. The three-time All-Star is one of 18 players in NBA history with at least 800 points in his first 30 playoff games. Booker joins LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Donovan Mitchell among active players to accomplish the feat.

In his Book bag tonight.

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/Pl0XXw4r8B

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 11, 2022

The Suns Game 5 victory was powered by a solid third-quarter performance, outscoring the Mavs, 33-14. Phoenix opened up the second half with an 11-4, punctuated by a pair of Booker three-pointers to help the Suns take a 61-50 lead. A Dallas timeout did little to stop the bleeding, with the Suns rolling to an 82-60 lead going into the final quarter.

On the other side, the Mavericks were unable to do much well after turning the ball over in the third quarter. When they cough the ball up, the Dallas offense regressed to a heliocentric offense revolved around Luka Doncic working his magic. But Luka Legend couldn’t do much to save the Mava despite finishing Game 5 with 28 points and 11 rebounds. The Mavs overall shot just 38 percent from the field. Jalen Brunson posted 21 points and seven boards.

Cooking up early

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/4pYb88tqMm

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 11, 2022

“I think we relaxed. That wasn’t us.” Doncic said about the Mavs’ dismal third-quarter performance. “That wasn’t ourselves. We’ve got to be way better than that.”

Luka Doncic on the Mavs' 3rd quarter spiral: "I think we relaxed. That wasn't us. That wasn’t ourselves. We’ve got to be way better than that.”

— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) May 11, 2022

Phoenix will look to close out their second series with Dallas on Thursday.

The post Luka Doncic on the Mavericks’ Third Quarter Meltdown: ‘That Wasn’t Us’ appeared first on SLAM.

In the first round against the Pelicans, Ayton averaged 20.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game on 70.0 percent shooting from the field. A good jump from his regular season when he posted 17.2 points and 10.2 boards per game.

As the Mavericks-Suns series rolls, Mavericks Coach Jason Kidd’s use of small-ball lineups might not be as valuable against Ayton, who is athletic enough to keep up with shooters like Maxi Kleber when Kidd deploys him as small-ball 5. The Suns also have lengthy and versatile defenders like Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and Cam Johnson, who can chase the Mavericks’ marksman

“We have to adapt,” Kidd said per Sports Illustrated. “Our game plan against Utah is not going to work against the Suns. We’ve already changed that mindset because we’re not playing the Jazz.

Ayton will be tasked with taking advantage of the Mavs whenever he’s in a pick-and-roll situation with CP3, rim-running in transition, and bullying his matchup when he’s given the rock in the low post. Ayton is also a threat to score from deep, sinking 50 percent of his four three-point attempts so far in the playoffs.

“We understand their strength is midrange, but they hurt you with the 3 in transition, and they can hurt you in the paint with JaVale and Ayton. This isn’t Gobert or Whiteside. These guys can put the ball in the basket. So, our bigs are going to be tested.”

The post Jason Kidd on Guarding the Suns’ Big Men: ‘We Have to Adapt’ appeared first on SLAM.

Paul scored 33 points on 14-14 shooting from the field, went 4-4 from the free-throw line, and sank his one and only attempt from beyond the arc. He also hauled in five rebounds and dished out eight assists. The 12-time All-Star became the first player in playoff history to make all 14 of his shots as he led the Suns back from a double-digit deficit.

CP3 scored his 33 points on seven different defenders, asserting his will on the Pelicans’ defense with his signature midrange jumper. Paul scored the dagger bucket with 28 seconds left on the clock when he knocked down 10-foot to give Phoenix a five-point lead.

“It’s unbelievably special; you have no idea how special it is for me,” said Paul, per ESPN. “I had no clue (I hadn’t missed). At halftime, I realized I might need to shoot a little bit more.”

pic.twitter.com/9TAysfbV9p

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 29, 2022

Paul’s perfect doesn’t happen without his pick-and roll partner, Deandre Ayton. Paul and the Suns erased a 10-point deficit in the third quarter after knocking down 13 of their first 14 shots. Paul hit six jumpers while Ayton (22 points, seven rebounds, and four assists) made two.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Paul and Ayton shot a combined 24-26 from the field, the highest combined field goal percentage (92.3 percent) by a pair of teammates in a playoff game in the shot-clock era.

“I don’t believe in heat checks, I don’t shoot enough to take a heat check, and once I miss, I might be cold,” Paul said. “They were sort of letting me get to my spots.”

The Suns and Dallas Mavericks are set for a second-round showdown that begins on May 2 in Footprint Center.

The post Chris Paul Leads Suns Past First Round With Perfect Shooting Night appeared first on SLAM.

Last night the two best teams in the League faced off, with the Suns outlasting the Warriors 104-96, tying the Suns’ franchise record of 17 consecutive wins. According to StatMuse, the Suns are 12-1 against opponents with a record of .500 and above, the best in the League.

After beginning the year off to a disappointing 1-3 start, the Suns went on a streak of sheer dominance, winning every single game in November.

Despite Devin Booker exiting the game in the first half with a hamstring injury, the Suns held on down the stretch thanks to Chris Paul’s ability to control the game’s pace during crunch time.

CHRIS PAUL TOO SMOOTH WITH IT. (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/tyKnakb1Yc

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 1, 2021

Paul finished with 15 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds on 7-13 shooting from the field and notching a team-high five steals. Deandre Ayton dominated the paint with a double-double, registering 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds on the night.

Someone order a scoop? (via @Suns) pic.twitter.com/mPeHB00cyG

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 1, 2021

The Warriors and Suns are set for their rematch on Friday. If the Suns take the second game, they’ll become the sixth team in League history to go undefeated for an entire calendar month. The last team to accomplish the same feat was their opponent, the Golden State Warriors, who went a perfect 24-0 over November during the 2015-16 season.

No loss November

— Book (@DevinBook) December 1, 2021

The post Phoenix Suns Tie Franchise Record For Most Consecutive Wins at 17 appeared first on SLAM.

Kaminsky has stepped up and produced in the last three games in the absence of the Sun’s center, Deandre Ayton, who was ruled out until further notice with a right leg contusion.

As Kaminsky heated up against Portland, fans were in full support chanting what sounded like “let’s go tank” or “let’s go frank”.

While coming off the bench and filling in admirably for the injured Ayton, it looks like Kaminsky has no problem understanding the assignment :

“I want to be who I think I am,” Kaminsky says in a postgame interview following the dub according to Yahoo! Sports.

All five starters reached double figures with Chris Paul being the second-leading scorer in last night’s contest dropping 21 points, seven dimes, and four boards.

The Suns look to extend their win-streak against the Memphis Grizzles (6-5) Thursday

The post Frank Kaminsky Posts Career-High 31 Points In Suns Win appeared first on SLAM.

“That is definitely not the case yet,” one general manager told Deveney. “The Suns still have a lot of the leverage in this. But if they really don’t think the situation is going to change, then yeah, they’d have to consider maybe making a move sooner than later.”

Ayton is coming off the strongest year of his then three-year career, taking huge strides defensively and helping the Suns make their way to the NBA Finals. Over his career, Ayton has averages of 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Earlier this month, after reports that the team had “reluctance” to offer him a max rookie contract extension and were “stalling discussions,” Ayton commented on the matter.

“I love Phoenix but I’m really disappointed that we haven’t really gotten a deal done yet,” Ayton said. “We were two wins from a championship and I just really want to be respected, to be honest. Be respected like my peers are being respected by their teams.”

The Suns have opened the season 1-2, with Ayton averaging 10.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game thus far.

The post REPORT: Suns Not Actively Pursuing Deandre Ayton Trade appeared first on SLAM.

Following those reports, Ayton recently commented on the matter and did not hide his frustrations regarding not being offered the max level deal that other players in his draft class have received, such as Luka Doncic and Trae Young.

Deandre Ayton addresses contract talks, saying he’s “disappointed” a deal hasn’t gotten done and he wants to be respected like his peers as ESPN reported last week contract talks were stalled over getting rookie max extension. #Suns pic.twitter.com/XVtj06fojN

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 12, 2021

“I love Phoenix but I’m really disappointed that we haven’t really gotten a deal done yet,” he said. “We were two wins from a championship and I just really want to be respected, to be honest. Be respected like my peers are being respected by their teams.”

Ayton then said he will “let them handle it in the most professional way possible and just control what I can control” when asked if he is confident a deal will get done.

Ayton averaged 14.4 points and 10.5 rebounds a game last season and solidified himself as a key component in the Suns’ playoff run—he averaged 15.8 points, 11.8 rebounds in the playoffs, posting 14 double-doubles. The team has allotted two spots for a rookie max contracts available per NBA rules. With two-time All-Star Devin Booker filling one of those spots, Ayton is eligible for the other.

The Phoenix Suns have until October 18th to offer the five-year, $172.5 million contract extension Ayton is seeking. If nothing happens, he could become a restricted free agent next offseason.

The post Deandre Ayton Voices ‘Disappointment’ That Phoenix Hasn’t Yet Reached Contract Deal appeared first on SLAM.

Wiseman played in just 39 games (27 starts) due to injury while averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest. He shot 62.8 percent from the free throw line and 31.6 percent from three. 

In the modern NBA, the value of the center seems to have fallen in recent drafts. To some, it was surprising that Wiseman went in the top-three. However, Deandre Ayton was the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and has turned out to be a star. 

In fact, Warriors coach Steve Kerr recently talked on 95.7 The Game about Wiseman, saying he thinks he can become the next Ayton. 

“To me, the most interesting thing has just been watching Deandre Ayton. And I talk to James and text him, and I’m just so inspired by what Ayton has been able to do, and I think there’s no reason why James can’t follow that same path. What Phoenix has done with Ayton is they’ve really streamlined his game. You look back a couple years ago and he was kind of all over the map. You could tell how gifted he was but you weren’t exactly sure what he was, and they’ve figured it out.”

While Ayton put up much better numbers his rookie season than Wiseman, his game has certainly come a long way to now. If Wiseman can make strides over the next few seasons, perhaps he can make the postseason impact that Ayton has over the past month. 

The post Steve Kerr Hopes James Wiseman Can Follow in DeAndre Ayton’s Footsteps appeared first on SLAM.

The resulting play, a masterclass of grit, pure athleticism, and an undying will to win, sent ripples through the NBA world.

Giannis Antetokoumpo, Milwaukee’s affable superstar, went from guarding Booker to almost instantaneously turning 180 degrees before springing into the air and blocking Ayton’s shot before he even had a chance to make contact with the rim. This block was the catalyzing factor in a late 7-0 run for the Bucks, who clawed back to win the game 109-101 after trailing for much of the four quarters.

One of the most fluid and forceful defensive plays in NBA Finals history, this impressive moment is already being immortalized as “The Giannis Block.”

CLUTCH BLOCK BY GIANNIS pic.twitter.com/jwB0b75o65

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 15, 2021

It immediately garnered the attention and praise from players around the league, who took to social media to express just how unfathomably clutch and impressive Giannis’s block was.

“That block by Giannis might have won them the game,” tweeted All-NBA point guard Damian Lillard.

That block by Giannis might have won them the game

— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 15, 2021

“That block by Giannis one of the best i ever seen,” tweeted six-year NBA veteran Richaun Holmes.

Those in the game itself also expressed amazement at Giannis’ play. Following the game, Bucks guard Pat Connaughton was asked about the block, which he called “the best block of all time.” 

When asked himself about the play, Giannis’ first remark was not one of total self-assurance. he, instead, was forthcoming about what he thought was going to happen.

“I thought I was going to get dunked on, to be honest with you,” he told the media.

Luckily enough for the Bucks, he wasn’t, and now Milwaulkee has a serious and tangible chance to become the next NBA Champions. 

The post NBA Community Reacts to Giannis’ Incredible Block appeared first on SLAM.

As the Suns got the win, it was fueled in part by Deandre Ayton, who produced 22 points and 19 rebounds. 

According to ESPN, Ayton became the first player since Tim Duncan in 1999 to record 15+ points and 15+ rebounds in his Finals debut.

Ironically enough, after Ayton notched 15 points and boards, Giannis Antetokounmpo also accomplished this same feat later in the game, becoming just the second player to do this since Duncan. 

Ayton is due for a major payday this summer to solidify himself in Phoenix long-term. The former No. 1 overall pick has always been good throughout his NBA career, but has elevated his game to a new level in this postseason. 

While Chris Paul is here now, he’s 36 and won’t be part of the Suns’ core for the next decade. However, Phoenix will be in good hands with their young duo of Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. 

The post Deandre Ayton’s Historic NBA Finals Debut appeared first on SLAM.

DEANDRE. AYTON. DOMINATION.@DeandreAyton scores 19 points while tallying #NBAPlayoffs career highs in boards (22) and blocks (4), putting the @Suns up 3-1! #ThatsGame

Game 5 – Monday, 9pm/et, ESPN pic.twitter.com/tovZKKCbpi

— NBA (@NBA) June 27, 2021

After the Suns 84-80 Game 4 win, Ayton took time to give credit to Chris Paul, who has helped his development that is on display in this postseason. Ayton even went as far as to call CP3 the best thing that has happened in his career.

“He was the best thing that happened to my career.”@DeandreAyton on @CP3‘s impact on him. #ThatsGame #NBAWCF presented by AT&T pic.twitter.com/A8zgIfCpWE

— NBA (@NBA) June 27, 2021

“I love CP, man. Like I said, that’s really the only teammate that really push me. Like big bro type push. Knowing what I got and that I ain’t never thought that I had,” Ayton said after Game 4. “I think he was the best thing that happened to my career. I can say that every day.”

Paul discussed Deandre’s progress over the season via CBS Sports.

“To see his growth, man, I get goosebumps. Seriously, man,” Paul said of Ayton. “We done had some heated conversations this season, especially earlier in the season, but man, I genuinely love him. You know what I’m saying? The person he is. And to see everything that’s coming to him, and the national audience getting to see who he is and why he was the No. 1 pick, I couldn’t be happier for him.”

Ayton and Suns have a chance to clinch a NBA Finals berth winning Game 5 on Monday night

The post Deandre Ayton on Chris Paul: ‘He was the Best Thing That Happened to My Career’ appeared first on SLAM.

The NBA ain’t ever seen a player like me.

Three years later, Ayton still means it. It wasn’t for clout or to make his SLAM 216 cover story sound good. He knew, even back then, that the League had never seen a player like him. When asked about it again during our interview in April, he makes it clear to everyone on the Zoom call that today he means it even more.

“I was serious. And I’m deadass. I’m serious, to the bone,” Ayton says. “I’m something the League has never seen: a 5 that can guard 1-5. A player that can anchor a defense, that can play like this every night.” 

His voice is stern and unwavering, the same way someone speaks when they’re right and they know it. “I love it,” he continues. “That’s the day and era that we’re in, where young guys like the Luka Doncics and the Trae Youngs are carrying teams, literally. But we love it. It’s who we are. It’s the life we chose. Simple as that.”

He has a point. There are a handful of players, all under the age of 25, that are helping carry their teams to potential playoff runs. Ayton is one of them, and as of writing this, he’s ranked 13th in the NBA in rebounds (10.7) this season. The Bahamian-born center is only four years younger than Clint Capela, who is leading the L. Ayton, only in his third season, turns 23 in July.

As the Suns continue to dominate the West and look to make a run in the playoffs—which would mark their first postseason appearance since 2010—DA is playing with a new type of energy and responsibility. His teammates are depending on him to grab every rebound that floats in the air, to help generate the offense by getting it done on the defensive end of the floor. It was once written that “there’s beauty in how the Suns turn Ayton rebounds into points,” but that might be too flowery. His job, he says, is to not only dominate the paint but to protect it.

“I’m a Leo, so I be roaring,” he says bluntly. “I don’t back down, I don’t do none of that. I love to compete, I love to defend. If I’m not there, people are going to see food…You might scoot by me, but I’m here. At the end of the day, you’re gonna come back down and see DA. This is basketball.”

And while many have criticized him for not shooting enough threes, Ayton knows that’s not his role on a team full of shooters. Devin Booker is averaging 25.4 points per game, and the Suns are led by the point god himself, Chris Paul, who can dish a dime to anyone on the floor at any moment in time. Ayton is expected to make things happen on the glass from anywhere on the court, to grab boards, set screens and help generate the offense, every single night.

“When I’m on the glass, I’m a presence. I don’t even call myself a big man. I never do. On my team, nobody calls me big fella. I really don’t compare myself to bigs. I can score like a big, that’s my system and that’s what’s best for my team, but I do all of that,” he says. “I know that CP and Book are depending on me to get them open, they’re expecting me to roll to create offense and generate in the middle.”

There’s a sense of pride you get when knowing that one of the best point guards in the game knows you can compete and expects it of you. Demands it. 

“CP3 is on our ass,” Ayton says about Paul. “I’m talking about he be on my ass, man. It ain’t no slip ups. I’m talking about paying attention to the details to the finest, almost perfection. He knows you’re human, but if he trusts you, when a superstar like that trusts you, you know, [it gives] superpowers almost. It’s like, You believe in me that much?”

It’s that belief, and his own self-assurance, that has added more fuel to Ayton’s fire this season. In 60 games, all of which he’s started, DA has 32 double doubles—and is on pace to have the most of his career. He’s running the floor, running pick and rolls with ease and playing with the confidence needed to get his shooters wide open. The two-man game that he plays with Paul has become one of the Suns’ most lethal weapons. And when asked about Ayton’s ceiling and potential, CP3 let us know back in February that the not-a-big-man is ready. He’s in full control now.

“I ain’t never been on this type of competitive team, to have this type of competitive spirit around you, [where] other dudes are on the same page as me. So why not? I’m cursing myself every day. Why not? I’m asking myself, knowing the answer. I just got to go out there and do it.”

DA will be the first to tell you that with everything he’s been through in his three years in the League, he’s not taking this moment for granted. But he hasn’t forgotten, either, about the moments when he and his team were doubted.

He knew the odds of the Suns dominating in the bubble: Fivethirtyeight.com projected they’d go 3-5 and had a “less than minuscule” chance of making the playoffs.

But, what the Suns did in the bubble wasn’t a fluke, and that 8-0 run wasn’t just a moment of good fortune. The numbers were wrong.

“Even going into the bubble with the -0.3 percent, all that stuff, I remember all of that,” he says. “That’s why I got this thing up in my room, you know what I’m sayin?” Ayton says, pointing to the jersey that is hung up behind him. “Like, ah, I just got to turn around sometimes, and [nods head] aight.”

Ayton then motions with his thumb to the RESPECT US jersey that’s hung up behind him on his wall, the same one he wore last season in the bubble. It’s a reminder of the journey, the process. But it’s also a demand.

“I’m from a different country and it’s hard to really adapt to new things and things that we’re not used to,” he says. “I think that’s what this world lacks a little bit and we’ve got to respect people’s ways and it’s who they are and what they do. That’s the thing, we have a hard time doing this in this world, and not only did I do that for us but for the team as well, as respect for the Suns before these wins.”

DA knows better than anyone that these wins shouldn’t be taken for granted.

He admits that the bubble, and the drug suspension he faced last season for unintentionally ingesting a diuretic, has made him who he is today. It’s made this player right now.

DA was coming off a fairly solid rookie season before his suspension. He registered a double-double in his NBA debut, making him the first player to do so in their debut game since Lew Alcindor in ’69 and Oscar Robertson in ’60—and, despite ankle injuries, he went on to break the Suns’ record for most double-doubles by a rookie (previously set by Alvan Adams in 1975-76) against the Washington Wizards in March, the same night teammate Devin Booker dropped 50.

But then, shortly after getting another double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds) in the season-opener against the Kings the following year, he was suspended for 25 games for violating the League’s drug-policy.

They say the higher that you climb, the further you can fall. The unintentional mistake he made back in October of 2019 was called a “false start” for Ayton and a “disappointment” for an organization that has had “nothing but disappointment for the last decade.” The former No. 1 pick thought that everyone was done with him.

“I’m thinking everybody hates me,” Ayton admits.

Well, everyone except for Diana Taurasi.

“I would walk past her every morning, going [into the gym] early and she’d be parking her car,” he says about one of his favorite players. “She’d stop me every time and tell me to keep my head up. And I’m like, for who she is, stopping me, someone who got suspended, who is damn near is done, my name got dropped, I [was] so surprised someone was talking to me. She had faith in me and told me, Nah, everybody makes mistakes.”

The suspension, he admits, felt like another chance to do things right. He spent that time watching film and going at it in workouts. While he’d be training, everything that Taurasi had said to him would run back through his head. He felt more locked in than ever.

Yo. Just remember, every time you’re doing these little workouts or whatever, just know, it’s only really important when nobody is watching.

But second chances don’t always come easy, and oftentimes, life is the hardest teacher. He returned in December, getting another double-double against the Clippers, only to sprain his right ankle three days later against the Thunder. It felt like another harsh reality he had to face about being in the League.

“It was like, Man. This is what it’s about, this is really the NBA. You can work for something so hard and it can go away like that,” he says with the snap of his finger.

He missed five games, but returned with redemption on his mind. He dropped double-doubles for three straight games against the Lakers, Knicks and Grizzlies, and then had a monster game against New York on their home court in January. Ayton finished with 26 points and a career-high 21 rebounds against the Knicks, making him the youngest player since Amar’e Stoudemire to record at least 25 points and 20 rebounds in a game for the Suns, and the youngest player ever to drop 25-plus points against the Knicks.

He was back, and so were the Suns. Looking back at that time, Ayton says he not only learned how to win, but what it felt like to win as an underdog.

“We were acting like we were winning championships in there. We were locked in. It felt like the playoffs because it was really intense and everybody was hungry, man. Every team brought it, but we was bringing it to them. We really wanted it more.” 

He’s keeping that same energy this season on a team that not only knows how to win, but expects it. And no one is more in control right now of how Deandre Ayton plays than Deandre himself.

“There’s no turning back from here,” he says. “I know what to do to prepare myself for the next level, I know what’s ahead of us. I have the guys around me to tell me what the hell I’m about to get myself into, how things are about to play. I like damn near have a chain around my neck about to pop, because I’m beyond ready for this shit. I’m just happy the front office really put some serious winners around me because now I feel it. I see the confidence certain teams get when they’re on a roll. It’s contagious throughout our whole team.”

The battle isn’t over, though, and in his own words, this the NBA, love. You can’t be content with a winning record in the NBA before the playoffs. DA is hungry for more, and his jersey from last season is a reminder to keep going. That respect has to be earned. It’s not just given.

“It’s to remind myself, Yo, we ain’t it. Only 40 wins, we ain’t got it. We ain’t there yet, it feels aight but we ain’t got it. There’s so much more. There’s so many more. I’m tryin’ to flip this city upside down. Tryin’ to have the whole roster and names on the streets, like, that’s just the energy I’m on.”

We haven’t seen the Phoenix Suns like this before. And, if we’re being real, the NBA hasn’t seen Deandre Ayton play like this before, either. Forget about stats and shooting percentages and all of that—just watch the way that he plays. His confidence is unwavering, every rebound is a testament to greatness and greatness to come.

But if we are talking numbers, then here’s one for you: 3.9 seconds. Back in April against the Jazz, per Arizonasports.com, it only took on average 3.9 seconds (give or take) for the Suns to attempt a shot on offense after Ayton secured the rebound. After grabbing a defensive board, he then hit a 15-foot jumper three seconds later. When Jae Crowder missed a three, Ayton was right there to snag the offensive rebound and dish it to Chris Paul for another shot. While the ball didn’t go through the net every time, Ayton’s 12 rebounds that night—seven of which were offensive and five defensive—helped guarantee more opportunities for the Suns. They went on to defeat Utah, who have the best record in the L and are sitting at a spot above them in the West, in overtime.

So if the Suns performance in the bubble wasn’t enough to prove to you that this team isn’t playing around, and if Ayton’s double-double performances and playmaking ability this season aren’t enough, then let these words, his own, be a final warning to dispel your lingering doubt:

“I’m ready to see it. I can already taste it. I’m craving it. I want to win every day…It’s like, why not be No. 1? Why not do certain things that people wouldn’t expect us to. We young, we’re just young and hungry. We’re competitive. We’re taking everybody. Straight up.”

And as we say on the islands, No let dat go ova yu head top. Blessings soon come.

—

Get your copy of SLAM 232 now!

Deyscha Smith is an Associate Editor for SLAM. Follow her on Instagram, @deyschasmith.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns are Ascending Towards Greatness appeared first on SLAM.

According to Wojnarowski, the player’s association is already prepping an arbitration case to reduce or rescind the suspension, believing that the banned substance would fall under the provision of “unintentional ingestion”.

The union is likely to fast-track the arbitration process in order to reduce the penalty as soon as possible.

Ayton isn’t the first player to face a lengthy suspension for violating the league’s drug policy. In the offseason it was revealed that Wilson Chandler, too, had tested positive for a forbidden substance.

Ayton will continue to eat up a roster spot for the first five games of whatever his suspension ends up being, at which point the Suns will have the option to move him to their Suspended List and free up a spot for an additional player.

The post Deandre Ayton Faces 25-Game Drug Suspension appeared first on SLAM.

Doncic lived up to the hype during his first year in the league, averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game for the Mavericks, establishing himself as a gutsy, clutch-time player that opposing teams will have to deal with for a long time coming.

Young quickly put to rest any concerns after a slow start and showed that his lights out college game translated to the NBA level. Young dropped 19.1 points and 8.1 assists per game as a rookie.

Deandre Ayton, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marvin Bagley III joined Doncic and Young on the first team. Ayton received 95 of a possible 100 first-team votes after posting an impressive, if overshadowed, 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

The All-Rookie second team was led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Collin Sexton, with Landry Shamet, Mitchell Robinson and Kevin Huerter joining them on the list.

NBA All-Rookie First Team
Luka Doncic, DAL
Trae Young, ATL
Deandre Ayton, PHO
Jaren Jackson Jr., MEM
Marvin Bagley III, SAC

NBA All-Rookie Second Team
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LAC
Collin Sexton, CLE
Landry Shamet, LAC
Mitchell Robinson, NYK
Kevin Huerter, ATL

Other notable players to earn votes include Mikal Bridges and Kevin Knox, the two players with the next most votes, as well as Josh Okogie and Miles Bridges who earned first-team votes despite falling short of either team.

For a complete list of the voting breakdown, check out the league’s press release.

The post Luka Doncic, Trae Young Headline 2019 All-Rookie Team appeared first on SLAM.

The 2019 NBA Awards will be broadcast live from Los Angeles on June 24. That gives hoops fans just shy of 40 days to debate the merits of the three players confirmed to be in the running.

Most Valuable Player
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL
Paul George, OKC
James Harden, HOU

Rookie of the Year
Deandre Ayton, PHX
Luka Doncic, DAL
Trae Young, ATL

Defensive Player of the Year
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL
Paul George, OKC
Rudy Gobert, UTA

Most Improved Player
De’Aaron Fox, SAC
D’Angelo Russell, BKL
Pascal Siakam, TOR

Coach of the Year
Mike Budenholzer, MIL
Michael Malone, DEN
Doc Rivers, LAC

The post NBA Award Finalists Unveiled For 2019 appeared first on SLAM.

The No.1  overall pick put up 21 points (9/13 from the field), 15 rebounds and 3 blocks in Wednesday’s 91-86 victory over the New Zealand Breakers. Peep the highlights below:

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Deandre Ayton Dominates in Preseason Debut

The post Deandre Ayton Puts Up 21 Points, 15 Rebounds in Preseason Win appeared first on SLAM.

But it wasn’t enough, as the visiting Sacramento Kings held off Phoenix 108-102.

Debut night stats

24PTS/10REB/1AST/1STL/3BLKS

A double-double in 30 minutes.

The number ONE draft pick ladies and gentlemen @DeandreAyton pic.twitter.com/wXBD9TcQVQ

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 2, 2018

Ayton, the top pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, “had a lot of fun” in his first pro game.

Per the AZ Republic:

“Ayton is going to be really good,” Sacramento coach Dave Joerger said. “He’s going to be a tough deal for the next 10 to 12 years.”

The 7-footer shot 9-of-16 from the field while the rest of the Suns went 24-of-58.

“I had a lot of fun, especially when you work so hard in the offseason and get yourself in NBA-ready shape,” Ayton said. “You have a lot of fun when you’re not fatigued.”

The post Deandre Ayton Dominates in Preseason Debut appeared first on SLAM.

In an interview with ESPN’s The Jump on Friday, Embiid said the 2018 No. 1 overall pick is “about to get his ass kicked this year.”

Ayton drew comparisons to Embiid around the draft, leading the Sixers big man to respond on Twitter:

Don’t compare Ayton to me either… I play DEFENSE

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 22, 2018

“I was watching the draft and I kind of felt disrespected,” Embiid told ESPN, specifically calling out analyst Chauncey Billups. “[Ayton] is going to be good. But when you talk about ‘He looks like Joel Embiid,’ I play on both sides of the court. I think I’m a good offensive player, good defensive player. I do it on both ends of the floor. I watched him play and he’s got a lot of work to do. But he’s got a lot of potential. He’s going to be really good.”

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The post Joel Embiid on Deandre Ayton: ‘He’s About to Get His Ass Kicked This Year’ appeared first on SLAM.

Book is looking forward to teaming up with rookie big man DeAndre Ayton.

“That’s dope for him to say that … but take it one step at a time.”

Shaq thinks @DevinBook and @DeandreAyton can be the next Kobe/Shaq duo. The Suns’ star guard tells @sportsreiter they’ll need to get some games under their belt first. pic.twitter.com/p5w7UPmbJ2

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) August 27, 2018

The 21-year-old says he “felt that pressure to succeed” even prior to signing a five-year max deal this summer.CBS Sports:

“It’s winning time,” said Booker, who joined “Reiter’s Block” on CBS Sports HQ. “With that contract, and even before the contract, I felt that pressure to succeed for the city and the franchise. They took a chance on me to be that [max] guy, I know it comes with a lot of leadership and responsibility, but I think I’m built for it. I’m looking forward to next year a lot, with the additions to the team, we’re in much better shape to have a much better season.”

The Suns added a number of draft picks, including No. 1 overall selection Deandre Ayton and No. 10 pick Mikal Bridges to the fold, giving them a dominant big man presence and a sharpshooter who can play both ways. Factor in a more experienced Josh Jackson and the offseason acquisition of Trevor Ariza, and it’s safe to assume Phoenix could be moving quickly in the right direction.

“We’re in the best shape we’ve been in since I’ve been a part of the franchise,” Booker said. “With the trades we’ve made, and with Deandre. He had an unbelievable summer league, playing the right way, not forcing it, was still dominating on both sides of the floor. He’ll be the down force threat we need to open up space for everybody else.”

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The post Devin Booker: ‘It’s Winning Time’ appeared first on SLAM.

Phoenix’s DeAndre Ayton, the No. 1 pick, and Cleveland’s Collin Sexton, the No. 8 pick, led the way in the ROY category, each receiving 18 percent of the votes. It was Chicago’s Wendell Carter Jr, however, who was the top vote-getter (13 percent) in response to the question: Which rookie will have the best career?

Atlanta’s Trae Young was pegged as the best shooter and best playmaker, Memphis’ Jevon Carter as the best defender and Philly’s Zhaire Smith as the most athletic.

Asked who their favorite player currently in the League is, the class primarily selected LeBron James (29 percent).

Peep all the results, courtesy of John Schuhmann from NBA.com, at the link below:

The 2018-19 https://t.co/LZK9TrZWwx Rookie Survey!https://t.co/BnRpNvNNRk

— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) August 21, 2018

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Deandre Ayton Makes Summer League Debut

The post 2018 Draft Class Predicts Who Will Win Rookie of the Year and More 👀 appeared first on SLAM.

Ayton and the Suns take the court again on Saturday, facing off against the Kings at 7:30pm ET.

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DeAndre Ayton on Diana Taurasi: ‘She’s the Michael Jordan of the WNBA’

The post Deandre Ayton Makes Summer League Debut 👀 appeared first on SLAM.

You read it… Now hear it! @DianaTaurasi x #WNBAVote pic.twitter.com/Y2wK8E0cun

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) July 5, 2018

I met her yesterday, by the way. I was freaking out. She just came over to me while I was working out. She said, ‘Hello and great to have you.’ I was like star-struck. I was speechless. She’s the Michael Jordan of the WNBA.

Taurasi, the 2009 MVP, is also a three-time champion and the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer. At 36 years old, she is currently averaging 20.1 points and 5.1 assists per game.

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The post DeAndre Ayton on Diana Taurasi: ‘She’s the Michael Jordan of the WNBA’ appeared first on SLAM.

“I play DEFENSE,” Embiid protested on social media.

Keep my name out of this lol

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 22, 2018

Don’t compare Ayton to me either… I play DEFENSE

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 22, 2018

Ayton, 19, says his goal is to become the “best two-way” center in the League.

Per the AZ Republic:

Ayton, who said he knew he was going to be the No. 1 pick after working out for the Suns on June 6, said he was still blown away when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called his name.

“I was just waiting for my name, and when he called it, my mind went blank,” Ayton said. “I just did the routine everyone else was supposed to do and I just got up there and enjoyed the moment and I saw the reaction on my mom’s face. It was just priceless.”

Ayton said he wants to be the “best two-way (big) man coming in. The game is changing a lot, but I just want to stick to the old-school big man, being down low and really trying to be dominant.”

The post Joel Embiid Rejects Comparisons to Deandre Ayton appeared first on SLAM.

But for NBA teams, however, tonight is the culmination of years of preparation. Scouts, analytics experts, general managers, owners and other front office personnel have gathered in war rooms as commissioner Adam Silver calls the names of the latest inductees into the NBA family.

Through watching countless hours of game film, conducting extensive interviews, and holding a myriad of individual workouts, teams have assembled detailed profiles on each prospect—hoping to select a franchise-altering talent.

Tonight, future 15-year veterans, NBA All-Stars, and perhaps even a couple Hall of Famers, will cross the stage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. These players will help shape the NBA landscape for years to come.

Let us know which team had the best draft in the comments!

2018 NBA Draft Full Results

1. Suns: DeAndre Ayton (C) – Arizona
2. Kings: Marvin Bagley (F) – Duke
3. Mavs (from Hawks): Luka Doncic (G) – Real Madrid
4. Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr (F/C) – Michigan State
5. Hawks (from Mavs): Trae Young (G) – Oklahoma State
6. Magic: Mo Bamba (C) – Texas
7. Bulls: Wendell Carter (C) – Duke
8. Cavs (from Nets via Celtics): Collin Sexton (G) – Alabama
9. Knicks: Kevin Knox (F) – Kentucky
10. Suns (from Lakers via Sixers): Mikal Bridges (G/F) – Villanova
11. Clippers (via Hornets): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (G) – Kentucky
12. Hornets (from Pistons via Clippers): Miles Bridges (F) – Michigan State
13. Clippers: Jerome Robinson (G) – Boston College
14. Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr (F) – Missouri
15. Wizards: Troy Brown (G) – Oregon
16. Sixers (from Heat via Suns): Zhaire Smith (G) – Texas Tech
17. Bucks: Donte DiVincenzo (G) – Villanova
18. Spurs: Lonnie Walker (G) – Miami
19. Hawks (from Wolves): Kevin Huerter (G) – Maryland
20. Wolves (from Thunder via Jazz): Josh Okogie (G/F) – Georgia Tech
21. Jazz: Grayson Allen (G) – Duke
22. Bulls (from Pelicans): Chandler Hutchison (G/F) – Boise State
23. Pacers: Aaron Holiday (G) – UCLA
24. Blazers: Anfernee Simons (G) – IMG Academy
25. Lakers (from Cavs via Blazers, Cavs): Moe Wagner (F/C) – Michigan
26. Sixers: Landry Shamet (G) – Wichita State
27. Celtics: Robert Williams (F/C) – Texas A&M
28. Warriors: Jacob Evans (G/F) – Cincinnati
29. Nets: Dzanan Musa (F) – Bosnia and Herzegovina
30. Hawks (from Rockets via Clippers): Omari Spellman (F/C) – Villanova

Second Round

31. Suns: Elie Okobo (G) – France
32. Grizzlies: Jevon Carter (G) – West Virginia
33. Mavs: Jalen Brunson (G) – Villanova
34. Hornets (from Hawks): Devonte Graham (G) – Kansas
35. Magic: Melvin Frazier (G/F) – Tulane
36. Knicks (from Bulls via Thunder): Mitchell Robinson (C)
37. Blazers (from Kings): Gary Trent Jr (G) – Duke
38. Pistons (from Nets via Sixers): Khyri Thomas (G) – Creighton
39. Lakers (from Knicks via Sixers): Isaac Bonga (F) – Germany
40. Nets (from Lakers via Magic, Raptors): Rodions Kurucs (F) – Latvia
41. Nuggets (from Hornets via Magic, Grizzlies, Suns): Jarred Vanderbilt (F) – Kentucky
42. Pistons: Bruce Brown Jr (G) – Miami
43. Nuggets (from Clippers via Knicks): Justin Jackson (F) – Maryland
44. Wizards: Issuf Sanon (G) – Ukraine
45. Nets (from Bucks): Hamidou Diallo (G) – Kentucky
46. Rockets (from Heat via Grizzlies): De’Anthony Melton (G) – USC
47. Lakers (from Nuggets via Jazz, Bulls): Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (G) – Kansas
48. Wolves: Keita Bates-Diop (F) – Ohio State
49. Spurs: Chimezie Metu (F/C) – USC
50. Pacers: Alize Johnson (F) – Missouri State
51. Pelicans (from Bulls via Pelicans, Heat): Tony Carr (G) – Penn State
52. Rockets (from Jazz): Vince Edwards (F) – Purdue
53. Thunder: Devon Hall (G) – Virginia
54. Sixers (from Blazers via Mavs, Nuggets): Shake Milton (G) – SMU
55. Hornets (from Cavs via Nets, Sixers): Arnoldas Kulboka (F) – Lithuania
56. Mavs (from Sixers): Ray Spalding (F) – Louisville
57. Thunder (from Celtics): Kevin Hervey (F) – Texas Arlington
58. Nuggets (from Warriors): Thomas Welsh (C) – UCLA
59. Suns (from Raptors): George King (F) – Colorado
60. Mavs (from Rockets via Sixers): Kostas Antetokounmpo (F) – Dayton

RELATED:
Report: Sixers Discussed Markelle Fultz Package for Top-Five Pick

The post 2018 NBA Draft Picks: Complete Results 📈 appeared first on SLAM.

Sources: Phoenix (Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton) and Sacramento (Duke’s Marvin Bagley III) have locked in on the NBA Draft’s Nos. 1 and 2 picks.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2018

If this report holds to form, Ayton, who averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game at Arizona, would be heading to the Phoenix Suns. Bagley, who put up 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per contest at Duke, will play for the Sacramento Kings.

RELATED: Peep the Invite List for the 2018 NBA Draft Green Room

The post Report: Ayton and Bagley Going No. 1 and No. 2 in the NBA Draft appeared first on SLAM.

Ayton said he knows he’s doing something different, but that he and his family are “comfortable with our decision, very comfortable with our decision. We have no worries at all.”

Ayton could be the number one pick in this Thursday’s draft. The 7-1 big man averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds during his lone season at Arizona.

Bagley told Bleacher Report that he likes the idea of being different.

“I chose Puma because I wanted to be different. I saw an opportunity where I could come in and build from the jump and work to get to a certain level.”

While Bagley scoffs at the idea of chasing the money, and says this is part of a “vision” he has, Ayton admits it was a factor in signing with Puma.

“Nike is Nike,” he says. “Adidas is Adidas. I’ve played in their circuits and stuff like that, but now it’s a business. You don’t want just product. You’re not a kid anymore. You’re really trying to get bank. That’s about it.”

The last time PUMA had an endorser in the NBA was 1998, when Vince Carter wore the PUMA Cell Origin Mid.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkLMbVnHnWx/?hl=en&taken-by=slamkicks

Clyde Frazier, of course, is PUMA’s OG, getting his own kicks back in 1973.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkLHcQJA6KN/?hl=en&taken-by=leaguefits

Ayton and Bagley will unveil PUMA’s new basketball sneaker at an upcoming date.

“I tried it on, worked out in it a little bit, got some shots up and jogged around in it,” Bagley says. “It felt pretty good. It felt good around my feet. I’m very excited where it can get to. It’s a great shoe. It’s stylish. You can wear it on the court, and it looks like you can wear it off the court. It’s going to be a good shoe, and I’m excited for it to be released.”

“It was like a shoe that was mad comfortable,” Ayton says. “Usually when I try on a shoe, I have to wear my custom insoles in them. I didn’t really have to try any insoles to put them on or play in them.”

Both big men say that their signature sneakers are in the works, too.

They join Skylar Diggins-Smith, Rihanna, The Weeknd and first round draft prospect Zhaire Smith on Puma’s list of endorsers.

h/t Bleacher Report

The post Puma Signs Deandre Ayton to Endorsement Deal appeared first on SLAM.

Among the known invitations: Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton, Duke’s Marvin Bagley III, Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson Jr., Texas’ Mo Bamba, Alabama’s Collin Sexton, Oklahoma’s Trae Young, Duke’s Wendell Carter Jr., Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr., Villanova’s Mikal Bridges, Kentucky’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Michigan State’s Miles Bridges, Kentucky’s Kevin Knox, Texas A&M’s Robert Williams, Miami’s Lonnie Walker, Villanova’s Donte DiVincenzo, Texas Tech’s Zhaire Smith, Boston College’s Jerome Robinson, Boise State’s Chandler Hutchison and UCLA’s Aaron Holiday.

No non-collegiate prospect made the cut this year, as projected top pick Luka Doncic won’t be in attendance due to his Real Madrid season.

The green room is a staging area near the podium where players wait with their families to be selected.

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Collin Sexton is Bringing Old School Attitude Back To The NBA

The post Peep the Invite List for the 2018 NBA Draft Green Room 👀 appeared first on SLAM.

Ayton won’t work out for any other teams during the pre-Draft process.

Arizona is a state Ayton already has history with — he graduated from Phoenix-based Hillcrest Prep before staying in-state to play college ball at the University of Arizona in Tuscon.

Ayton flirted with the idea of playing alongside Suns star Devin Booker, telling media “That’s Shaq and Kobe 2.0 … We could really make something happen in Phoenix.”

The idea of playing alongside Booker came one step closer to fruition after Suns GM Ryan McDonough called Ayton’s workout “phenomenal.”

“It was everything that we expected from DeAndre. Obviously we’ve watched him closely at Arizona and we’ve scouted him heavily in person at games, in practice, and on film, and he showed us what we expected to see… We saw him finish a lot around the basket and then we put him in mid-range, and then out to the NBA 3 offensively”

After his workout, Ayton spent the rest of the day watching Game 3 of the NBA Finals with Booker, Josh Jackson and Marquese Chriss.

RELATED: DeAndre Ayton is the NBA’s Next BIG Thing

The post DeAndre Ayton: ‘I Know I’m Going No. 1’ After Workout with Suns appeared first on SLAM.

Check out all three cover stories at the links below, stay posted for more dope stuff from the mag over the next few weeks, and head to your local newsstand to cop or order a copy here!

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The post SLAM 216 Is On Sale Now! appeared first on SLAM.

That is, if they don’t trade it beforehand.

Appearing on ESPN during the combine, Suns GM Ryan McDonough said the organization is “certainly open” to moving the pick if the right deal arises:

Suns GM Ryan McDonough says the Suns are open to moving back in the 2018 NBA Draft. pic.twitter.com/UmM2WC8TDw

— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) May 18, 2018

“We’re certainly open to that. We’ll consider it. I think we’ll have more information closer to the draft than we do today after we go through the workout process and the interview process. Get the medicals, physicals. We’re open to that. I think if you look around the NBA, as far as the veteran players, there are probably a few we’d consider trading the pick for, outright, just pick for player. It will be a busy month for us.”

The 2018 draft will take place June 21 at Barclays Center.

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The post Suns GM Ryan McDonough: ‘We’re Certainly Open’ To Trading The No. 1 Pick 👀 appeared first on SLAM.

So there’s Josh, and then there’s Eric, whose voice, not surprisingly, is nearly identical to Josh’s. Eric is new and DeAndre is still trying to carve out his character. At the moment, it boils down to a collection of hobbies—like playing NBA2K and Fortnite, lots and lots of Fortnite—which, coincidentally, DeAndre happens to share.

So there’s Josh and Eric. And then there’s Alejandro. Alejandro is DeAndre’s favorite of the trio. He’s been around the longest and appears most frequently. “If I don’t want to do something I have to, I’ll just make fun of it,” Ayton says. Certain questions “bring out Alejandro.” This, Ayton proudly adds, often “shocks” whomever he is speaking to. I ask Ayton if he has an example he can share. He does. Over the past year, he says, Alejandro would often come out if and when Ayton attended a University of Arizona frat party.

“I didn’t want to talk to anyone and so I told everyone my name is Alejandro. I said”—and here Ayton’s voice shifts into a not-so-great impersonation of a Latino accent—“Who’s DeAndre? My name is Alejandro. Where are you getting this DeAndre kid from?”

Ayton’s always had some jokester in him. His mother, Andrea, says she always thought he’d become a comedian. Her point is that these characters have always lived inside him.

But lately Alejandro has been making more appearances. This, of course, is thanks to Ayton’s budding basketball fame. In just a few months, he’ll hear NBA Commissioner Adam Silver call his name during the NBA Draft. Ayton’s name might be the first Silver calls out, or maybe the second. Perhaps it will be the third, but it’s highly unlikely Ayton will have to wait any longer than that, not with his bouncy 7-1, 260-pound frame, Popeye-like muscles and deft feet, which his mother says were honed as a kid dancing to Michael Jackson videos.

It’s a blend of physical tools and skills that make scouts woozy.

And Ayton knows it. He knows how talented he is, how great he can be. “The NBA ain’t ever seen a player like me,” he says at one point during his afternoon with SLAM. He may be just 19 (he’ll turn 20 in July), but his future, to be the future of the game, is a future he wants and expects. And yet to fulfill all the promise packed into all those muscles, to see that future come to fruition, he’s going to first have to learn how to navigate all the bumpy terrain that comes along for the ride.

It’s early April and we’re in Phoenix, and it’s about 12:30 when a smiling DeAndre Ayton—he’s always smiling, unless you make the mistake of trying to wake him up in the morning—strolls down the ramp leading toward the basketball court where our interview and photo shoot are scheduled. This is notable because our interview is scheduled to begin at 12:30, meaning Ayton is on time, something rarely said about NBA players, meaning Ayton’s either incredibly punctual or doesn’t yet recognize how much of his surrounding world orbits around him. It could be the latter. But the half-dozen times over our few hours together that Kyle Weaver, Ayton’s former high school coach and current personal trainer, has to remind him where he left his wallet and phone and keys doesn’t exactly paint the picture of a perfectly organized teenager.

Ayton spends the afternoon cracking jokes and admiring his own photos—“That’s sexy shit,” he exclaims after seeing one—and swatting away his trainer the first, oh, half-dozen times Weaver attempts, perhaps only half-jokingly, to transform the photo shoot into a practice session. Upon hearing the photographer ask Ayton to dribble for the camera, Weaver, a Phoenix native with dark black hair who’s built like the former college guard he is, strolls over, wearing a grin and carrying a second ball.

“Get that shit away,” Ayton, smiling and relishing a day off, responds. He’s spent hours with Weaver over the past few weeks working on his handle, going through various drills where he pounds both ball balls into the ground. He’s never really needed guard skills before, not when he’s always been the biggest and strongest man on the court, but he knows the NBA game is different today, and that nowadays even seven-footers are asked to shoot from deep and put the ball on the floor.

So he spends his pre-draft days strengthening his ball skills and launching three-pointers and not leaving the floor before draining 50 shots from deep, which, Weaver says, Ayton usually does in 70 or less attempts. The form’s not perfect, but it’s far from clunky. Watch him shoot and then cue up the highlights of him bullying opponents last season during his lone year at Arizona, to the tune of 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, and you can see why an NBA general manager and an assistant general manager that I spoke with for this story both described Ayton as an “incredible” offensive talent, exactly the type of player a 21st century NBA offense can and should be built around.

“There are a lot of versatile bigs, but I’m a different versatile big,” Ayton says. “The versatile bigs that are in the NBA, all the unicorns, they start outside in. I establish myself down low before I come out. That was just old school to me—that’s how they taught me how to play.”

But also, “You know, I hate being a big man, because I don’t like jump hooks. I don’t want to see a seven-footer do a jump hook so I don’t do them. I’m an entertainer, I like entertainment. I like to entertain myself.”

Which is great. The challenging part is learning how to adjust when the world around you suddenly feels as if it’s closing in and choking the fun out of the fun, or entertaining, aspects of your life.

Ayton wasn’t always a boisterous Joel Embiid clone. Growing up in The Bahamas, he didn’t start playing basketball until the fourth grade and, by his own admission, he was “trash.” But by age 12, he had shot up to 6-5 and so naturally he caught the eye of some coaches who reached out to some scouts who connected with the Aytons and, before long, DeAndre and his family were packing their bags and headed to San Diego and playing alongside kids who had no qualms with reminding him how trash he was.

“They really got on my ass,” Ayton says. He was afraid to talk back. He knew they were right, that his game was raw. But also, “I had a little accent back then and a deep voice and they would make fun of it.” He adds that he had a bit of a stutter.

Driven at least partially by that ridicule, he began spending school nights in the gym, sometimes until 2 a.m. His skills grew. So did his body. “I got pretty good at basketball pretty fast,” he says. He was dubbed the best eighth-grade basketball player in the country. With that came confidence, on the court but also in personality.

“As I got better I started disrespecting [the people I was playing against],” Ayton says. He’d run with older pros trying to get into the NBA and drop lines like, Yo, you play in the G-League—what? Man, I’m going to the NBA, and, How old are you? You already lived your life. I’m going up and you’re going down.

It was quite the transformation.

During the initial years in San Diego, Ayton lived in three different homes—all belonging to men connected to Balboa City School, the private academy Ayton attended—before Andrea moved the family to Phoenix. There he enrolled at Hillcrest Prep, where Weaver served as the basketball coach. “When he first got to us, he was really shy and quiet,” Weaver says. “You could tell he didn’t really trust people.”

Ayton declines to go into detail on these years. Instead, he says, “I’ve been around a lot of snakes, people who say they have your best interest [in mind] but they’re really there for their own purposes. Kids like me, who are in my position, really have to watch out for that. They got guys who will give you their whole world, but they know what you’re going to get in the future and take that away from you.”

I ask how that’s changed him.

“It changed me a lot in how I read people,” Ayton says. “When it comes to my personal life, I watch people around me. Even family members—I watch how they act. Who was there with you with the struggles, especially when all this stuff happened at U of A.”

By “stuff,” Ayton means the ESPN report that came out in February on the heels of the FBI’s investigation into the NCAA. The report claimed Arizona had discussed paying him to come play for the university. It has since been both refuted and denied, though ESPN has stuck behind the story.

Beyond the scope of the world of NCAA infractions, whether Ayton was paid is largely irrelevant—has anyone explained why, exactly, the FBI is essentially conducting an investigation to enforce the NCAA’s corrupt and twisted rule? But what does matter was how the ordeal stripped away Ayton’s adolescence and introduced him to his new normal. And it wasn’t just seeing his name tossed into stories containing phrases like “federal investigation.” It’s the microscope that he’s been thrown under, like the pre-draft scouting reports criticizing his effort and motor while playing at Arizona.

“I don’t get that,” Ayton says, growing animated. “What does that even mean? That gets on my nerves. I honestly hate that.

“I’m playing small ball, switching on guards and then have to go back to the post and switch back onto the guard the whole game. Like, there’s times where they put their best guard at the 4 and I have to guard him all game. I have to run behind screens, come off off-ball screens, then try to rebound, then switch back onto the big.”

That particular critique, he adds, “makes me sick.”

His mother sums it up a few days later over the phone: “His whole season at Arizona, we never got a break. His name was all over the place. He’s such a happy kid, but there I don’t think he ever had a chance to smile.”

Which is perhaps what excites him most about the NBA. Basketball will soon again be fun. In fact, in the time since Ayton’s college season ended and he began his official pre-draft training with Weaver in Phoenix, it already has.

After our interview, Ayton works up a small sweat getting up jumpers with Weaver before heading to the sideline to pack up his things and head home. Two teenage boys approach him. They’re dressed in basketball clothes and have spent the past half hour or so shooting around on a separate hoop. They tell Ayton they saw a Snapchat video he posted earlier during the shoot and recognized the gym’s logo and so they decided to come meet him.

They ask him for pictures and autographs.

Smiling, Ayton fulfills their requests.

—

Yaron Weitzman is a writer living in New York. Follow him on Twitter @YaronWeitzman.

Photos by @matthewcoughlin, action shot via Getty Images

Video by Jakob Owens

The post DeAndre Ayton is the NBA’s Next BIG Thing 💪 appeared first on SLAM.

In a story by The Athletic‘s Michael Scotto, the NBA exec said that Bamba’s elite skill (shot-blocking) may give him the edge over Ayton.

Story: NBA executives weigh in on 5 prospects with NY roots, including Texas' Mo Bamba, Kentucky's Hamidou Diallo (@hamidoudiallo), Arizona's Rawle Alkins (@Iam_RawleAlkins), Georgetown's Jessie Govan (@JGovan15) and St. John's Shamorie Ponds (@ShamorieP). https://t.co/diODSuMimB

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 4, 2018

Via HoopsHype:

“I like Bamba a lot,” an Eastern Conference executive told The Athletic. “He’s one of the top picks for me. I would seriously look at him and DeAndre Ayton and see who has the bigger upside. I think his upside may be better than Ayton’s. He’s such an elite shot blocker.

“His skill level isn’t bad, and it’s getting better. He has a nice touch, and he’s going to get better. Ayton has a super body right now. Bamba needs to get stronger. But you can’t go wrong either way. Which one has the drive to be great? Ayton right now is the better overall player, but Bamba has an elite skill.”

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The Arizona big man said he could see himself playing in Phoenix with shooting guard Devin Booker and being “a little Shaq and Kobe 2.0.”

Deandre Ayton on @CBSSportsRadio earlier today about which team he would like to play for:

“Honestly, I could see myself in Phoenix. I could see a little Shaq and Kobe 2.0.” cc: @DevinBook

— The Bright Side (@BrightSideSun) March 31, 2018

https://t.co/e9NWIcoLx6

— Deandre Ayton (@DeandreAyton) April 1, 2018

The Suns currently have the worst record in the League (19-59) and therefore the highest chances of landing the No. 1 pick in June’s draft.

RELATED
Ayton On Why He Should Be No. 1 Pick: ‘Nobody Has Competitiveness Like Me’

The post Ayton Could See Himself In Phoenix With Booker Being ‘Shaq And Kobe 2.0’ appeared first on SLAM.

After Arizona’s 68-89 loss to Buffalo, Ayton told reporters that he made up his mind after his final AAU season.

When did you make the decision to go pro?

Ayton: “That was always my dream to go to the NBA. Me and my mom would always talk about it, throw it out there, stuff like that.

“So I would say probably in the summer of my senior year, after AAU.”

RELATED:
Deandre Ayton On Why He Should Be No. 1 Pick: ‘Nobody Has Competitiveness Like Me’

The post Deandre Ayton Made One-And-Done Decision During High School appeared first on SLAM.

On Friday, the 7-1 freshman center from the Bahamas said confidently that he should go No. 1., citing his competitiveness and drive, via USA Today’s Josh Peter:

“Nobody has the competitiveness like me, you know what I’m saying?’’ said Ayton. “I think I’m different from everybody else. That’s about it. Play hard, I play hard everyday. Got a country on my back that I’m representing.’’ 

His comments came after a 32-point, 14-rebound performance in a 78-67 overtime victory over UCLA in the semifinals of the Pac-12 tournament.

RELATED
Class of 2017 SLAM HS All-Americans 1st-Team

The post Ayton On Why He Should Be No. 1 Pick: ‘Nobody Has Competitiveness Like Me’ appeared first on SLAM.

DeAndre Ayton
7-0, PF, Phoenix (AZ) Hillcrest, Arizona
Ayton led Hillcrest Prep to a 33-6 record and the Grind Session’s national title after averaging 26 points, 15 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game this past season. The Nassau, Bahamas native will soon be the latest prospect from the Caribbean to show out at the collegiate level while he aims to take head coach Sean Miller to his first Final Four appearance with the Arizona Wildcats.

Mohamed Bamba
6-11, PF, West Chester (PA) Westtown, Texas
Averaging 12 points, 12 rebounds and 6 blocks per game, Bamba helped lead his team to a 32-2 record this past season. The Harlem native has an already-scary 7-9 wingspan, which would already be the biggest in the NBA today. With those measurables, Bamba might have the biggest upside of all the top recruits in his class.

Wendell Carter Jr
6-9, PF, Atlanta (GA) Pace, Duke
This future Duke Blue Devil is a threat in the paint and from distance. He led his high school team to a 26-8 record and the Class AAA state title while averaging 22.7 points, 15.5 rebounds and 5.8 blocks per game this season. Carter will follow in the footsteps of Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor and Jayson Tatum as the latest five-star forward to suit up for Coach K.

Trevon Duval 
6-3, PG, Bradenton (FL) IMG, Duke
Regarded as the No. 1 point guard in the country, Duval’s athleticism and explosiveness made him one of the toughest matchups in all of high school ball. He averaged 16.2 points and 7.7 assists for the IMG Academy Ascenders, who finished this season with a 26-2 record. Although he was born in Queens, Duval’s lived in Wilmington, DE since middle school, so he’s constantly looking to put his often slept-on home state on the map.

Michael Porter Jr
6-10, SF, Seattle (WA) Nathan Hale, Missouri
MPJ led Seattle’s Nathan Hale—coached by former NBA All-Star Brandon Roy—on a historic run this past season, claiming the state title and going undefeated with a 29-0 overall record, ultimately finishing ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation. Porter Jr averaged 36.4 points and 13.5 rebounds for the Raiders. The former Washington commit will now be the main attraction in the SEC when he suits up for the Missouri Tigers this fall.

—

Portraits by Justin Borucki. 

Video by Erikson Corniel.

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Uncommitted top-15 recruit Brian Bowen, a 6-7 wing who is a first cousin of Jason Richardson, dropped a game-high 26 points while shooting an impressive 6-for-7 from behind the arc. He earned MVP for the East Team. For the West, it was Miami commit Lonnie Walker Jr, a 6-4 SG from Reading (PA) High, who took home co-MVP honors after finishing with 19 points.

Other top performers included Arizona commit DeAndre Ayton, a 6-11 forward from the Bahamas, who posted 19 points and 8 rebounds. Kentucky commit Jarred Vanderbilt had 17 points and 7 rebounds until he suffered what appeared to be an ankle injury and eventually needed to be helped off the floor.

Big man Brandon McCoy had the only double-double of the night, with the uncommitted top-10 recruit finishing with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while his East teammate Mitchell Robinson chipped in 15 points.

Other contributors for the West Team included Texas commit Matt Coleman, who finished with a game-high 8 assists to go with 8 points and 3 steals, and Alabama-bound PG Collin Sexton, who finished with 11 points and a couple of dimes.

Check out the video above for a summary of the top plays and performers from last night’s game.

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The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) today announced that the ninth edition of Basketball without Borders (BWB) Americas will be held July 5-8 at The Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium in Nassau, Bahamas, marking the first time that the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in the Bahamas. 

 

BWB Americas will bring together the top male and female players born in 2000 from across North and South America to learn directly from NBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches and to compete against the best young players from the region.  BWB Americas will also include a variety of NBA Cares and Jr. NBA community outreach efforts with youth in the Bahamas in partnership with local community organizations.  These programs will highlight the power of sport to promote cultural understanding while teaching the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle and the values of the game, including teamwork, integrity and respect.  Nike, a BWB global partner since 2002, will outfit the campers and coaches with Nike apparel and footwear.
 

BWB has reached more than 2,720 participants from 134 countries and territories since 2001, with 43 campers drafted into the NBA.  Twenty-three former BWB campers, including four former BWB Americas campers, were on opening-night rosters for the 2016-17 season including Bruno Caboclo (Toronto Raptors; Brazil; BWB Americas 2013), Thon Maker (Milwaukee Bucks; South Sudan; BWB Americas 2015) and Kelly Olynyk (Boston Celtics; Canada; BWB Americas 2009).
 

The NBA and FIBA have staged 49 BWB camps in 30 cities across 25 countries on six continents.  More than 230 current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players have joined more than 185 NBA team personnel from all 30 NBA teams to support BWB across the world. 

The post NBA & FIBA to Host 1st Basketball Without Borders Camp in the Bahamas appeared first on SLAM.

See below for complete list.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

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See below for the complete 2017 list:

Girl’s Game rosters:

The post 2017 McDonald’s All-American Game Rosters Revealed appeared first on SLAM.

Now the John Wall Holiday Invitational, the event brought the bulk of the Research Triangle’s finest programs together with a number of national powerhouses that have sure fire NBA talent. A large portion of the proceeds benefit the John Wall Family Foundation, who strives to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged families through mentorship, basketball, and physical activity. Many of the aforementioned were able to see some of the nation’s top ballers throughout the four day event, including some of the top hoopers that will be playing high-major collegiate ball next fall.

“I just think that it’s a great tournament. I played in it and there are a lot of McDonald’s All-Americans, NBA players that came through there,” Wall said of becoming the title sponsor. “For it to be in my hometown, it was great to put my name on it. I tried to get some big name guys to come back and play in it in the past to get it back to where it used to be when it was packed out every night.”

Many don’t realize how ironic it is for Wall to put his name on a tourney at Broughton. After playing his first two years at Garner, he transferred to Broughton and was cut during his junior year. He then moved on to Word of God and the rest is history.

“Every time that I go back in that gym, it’s surreal. I got cut, went to another school, and came back to win a championship every time I played here. I didn’t come in second place one time [after I got cut]. To have my name on it shows all of the hard work and dedication that I went through,” the Wizards lead guard said of this serendipitous occurrence. “I never gave up on anything. Everyone is still wondering why I got cut and I’m still wondering why I got cut, but that’s something I put past me.”

Competition was strong throughout the weekend. The David West bracket had a ton of heated local rivalries, while the T.J. Warren bracket donned the bulk of the national power. Ultimately, it was Heritage who took the title for the West division, while Hillcrest Prep won the T.J. Warren crown. Games were lost, scholarships were won, and exposure was gained in North Carolina’s premier high school event.

Here are a few of the top seniors from the 2016 John Wall Holiday Invitational:

DeAndre Ayton, 7-0, PF/C, Hillcrest Prep (AZ)

After a slow start in his opening game, the nation’s top senior got progressively better, ultimately culminating with MVP honors of the John Wall Holiday Invitational. Blending a simply unique package of size, athleticism and ability to shoot the ball, DeAndre showed the sold out crowd why NBA execs consider him an elite prospect. When engaged, he got deep post position, straight ripped off the rim, and made some sick passes out of double teams. While he is an excellent shooter for a 7-footer, there were times in which he hung out on the perimeter a bit too much, but that still doesn’t change the immense long term potential that he has as a prospect.

Kevin Knox, 6-9, SF, Tampa Catholic (FL)

The most sought-after unsigned wing in the country showed everyone at The John Wall why he is a priority for the nation’s finest programs. At every bit of 6-foot-9, Knox has the size of a power forward and the skills of a guard. He drilled threes from NBA range, showed off remarkable agility as a finisher in transition, and used his length to block a ton of shots. Duke, North Carolina, and Kentucky were all on hand to put in a little more face time for this future McDonald’s All-American.

Lavar Batts Jr., 6-2, PG, JM Robinson (NC)

The state’s top senior ‎lived up to the hype, even impressing John Wall with his dynamic play. Lavar’s end to end speed, crazy court vision, and ability to finish acrobatically with either hand made him a crowd favorite. The VCU recruit had one of the best dunks of the week with his swinging reverse and has the talent to make an impact in Richmond from the moment he steps foot on campus.

Alex Reed, 6-4, SF, Garner HS (NC)

A throwback of sorts, Alex Reed didn’t necessarily fit a particular position, but simply got it done all over the hardwood. He posted smaller defenders, slashed to the rim, and had a surprising handle for a guy his size. The old school wing has an offer from Western Carolina, but will be a full qualifier with plenty of options in the late signing period.

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A couple of five-star recruits have shown that academics are beginning to play a bigger role in their college decisions than ever before. A couple of top-10 kids have considered Harvard along with the traditional high-major programs.

In terms of recruiting, Alabama, Duke, Kentucky and UCLA have all succesfully landed a good chunk of the top-50 list.

All in all, there’s a lot to be excited about with this class. We’ll update this list once again in the spring after the season. For now, here’s our current SLAM Fresh 50 for the Class of 2017:

—

Photo by Layne Murdoch

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“The biggest challenge was blocking everybody out of my mind when I play,” Ayton says. “A lot of tweets go around saying, ‘He’s not eligible for college,’ stuff like that. I’ve had to overcome that. On the court, though, there’s no challenge, to be honest—other than just focusing. I adapted to it. I’ve heard a lot of criticism in my life, ever since I moved out here to the US, but that type of stuff doesn’t bother me. I use it as motivation.”

In an age when misinformation and rumors easily (and quickly) spread through social media, high-profile recruits find themselves having to cope with the constant drum of outside noise. And while it’s one of those “it comes with the territory” situations, Ayton seems to have embraced the chatter with ease.

A 7-foot center armed with explosive athleticism and an inside-outside game that extends out to the perimeter, his skillset has drawn comparisons to the likes of Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan. Last season, as a junior, he averaged 29.2 points, 16.7 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game at Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix while playing a national schedule against America’s top prep programs.

Ayton’s road to becoming America’s top prospect began in San Diego, where he enrolled at the Balboa School in 2011. He remained there until the summer of 2015, when he relocated to the Valley of the Sun to join Hillcrest. The different environments have provided the versatile big with some valuable life lessons.

“Growing up in the Bahamas, I really learned how to appreciate things more for when I moved out to Cali,” Ayton says. “Moving to Cali, the program really helped me to be humble. I was a very lowkey prospect. And moving to Arizona, I made it home.”

Last year, his mother, Andrea, relocated to the US to join him in Phoenix. His siblings followed. Their arrival couldn’t have come at a more perfect time—the noise surrounding his recruitment is louder than ever.

“My mom is my rock,” Ayton admits. “She is my shield. She keeps all my sharks away. I can go anywhere—she has to be with me. Everything goes through my mom.”

Of course, making Arizona his home turned out to be more than a high school decision.

It’s where he plans to suit up for college, too, after giving the Wildcats a verbal commitment in September. His slated arrival in Tucson wasn’t just about choosing a top-ranked program within close proximity. Whittling his options down to Arizona, Kansas and Kentucky, he realized that only one of those coaches had yet to reach a level that the other two had, and he really wanted to change that.

“The second unofficial visit, we went up to Arizona and I told my mom, You know? I really like this program,” Ayton says. “Coach Sean [Miller] has never gone to the Final Four, and I really was thinking about that. I really intend to help him get there—and then lead ‘em to a National Championship. I told my mom, I just want to make history.”

—

Franklyn Calle is an Assistant Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @FrankieC7.

Portraits by Layne Murdoch 

The post Everybody Looking appeared first on SLAM.

“I made Arizona home going to Hillcrest Prep,” said Ayton on national television. “My family and I can benefit by going to my games. Coach Pasternack and Sean Miller, we really trust those guys and I know they can help me get to the next level.”

Ayton is commonly compared to Kevin Garnett and is highly touted for his length and versatility.

“I told my mom I was on a mission at age 12,” Ayton told SLAM last year of his decision to relocate to the US in 2011. “I knew what I wanted. I knew what my mom and family were going through. I came over here for business—to work.”

The post Arizona Lands Commitment From No. 1 Prospect in the Class of 2017 DeAndre Ayton appeared first on SLAM.

In the end, MOKAN Elite, a Kansas City based program featuring a dynamic duo of top-25 national prospects looked unstoppable throughout the weekend, going a perfect 8-0 before claiming the 17U championship. The duo, made up of forward Michael Porter Jr. and point guard Trae Young, had the crowd buzzing with their play, including their effectiveness from behind the perimeter.

Overall, with Nike’s circuit hosting 9 of the top 10 prospects in the rising senior Class of 2017, the showcase featured lots of high quality talent as well as action. Below are some of the top performers from the weekend.

Michael Porter Jr., 6-10, SF, Nathan Hale (WA), Class of 2017: They say that what separates the good ballers from the great ones is that the great ones step up when the stakes get higher. And if we learned anything this past weekend about the Class of 2017, it’s that Porter Jr. is among the great ones in this group. His performance throughout the weekend have many considering him for the top spot in the 2017 class. In his seven games at Peach Jam, the 6-9 wing scored 24 or more points in all but one. But it’s really what he did in his last three games (quarterfinals, semis, & championship) that cemented his place this weekend. He posted 31 points and 14 rebounds in the quarterfinals, followed by 25 and 14 in the semis and then 33 points and 6 rebounds in the title game against PSA Cardinals — where he went five for six from behind the perimeter and 12 for 16 overall from the field to help lead his MOKAN Elite squad to the 17U crown.

Trae Young, 6-2, PG, Norman North (KS), Class of 2017: While Porter made a case for top overall prospect in the 2017 class, his AAU teammate Trae Young made his case for top point guard of the group. The rising senior showcased his deadly scoring prowess as well as the ability to find the open man. He averaged 27.6 points during the five pool play games before following it up by averaging 26.0 points during the three bracket play games (quarters, semis, finals) en route to claiming the Peach Jam crown. His memorable performances included dropping 32 and 35 points on the last day of pool play and then dropping 28 points in the quarterfinals and then another 28 points in the championship game, where he sunk six 3-pointers. But he isn’t just a natural scorer. Young, who loves to push the ball and keep the defense on their toes, reached 9 or more assists in four of his eight games. Many were left wondering if a package deal to college with Porter could be in the cards and potentially bring the lucky school similar results as it did to MOKAN.

Brian Bowen, 6-7, SF, La Lumiere (IN), Class of 2017: Fresh off a championship game appearance in the DICK’S Nationals tourney, Bowen has continued his impressive play during the spring and summer, where he helped lead the Chicago-based Meanstreets program to the Peach Jam quarterfinals this past weekend. During pool play, the 6-7 wing posted a performance of 36 points and 10 rebounds, which he followed with a 26-point and 10-rebound outing the next day. Out of his six games in South Carolina, Bowen scored 19 or more points in all but one of those outings. The gifted scorer has emerged as one the top overall prospects in the senior class.

Lonnie Walker, 6-5, SG, Reading (PA), Class of 2017: His best outing with Team Final came on Thursday when he dropped 26 points in a morning game (where he shot 4 for 8 from 3-point land against a very talented Each 1 Teach 1 squad) and then again another 26 points that evening. An exceptional shooter whose team unfortunately didn’t make it out of pool play, Walker demonstrated why he’s regarded as among the elite scorers in the Class of 2017.

DeAndre Ayton, 7-0, PF, Hillcrest Academy (AZ), Class of 2017: The big man out of the Bahamas scored 17 or more points in all seven of his games at Peach Jam, helping lead his Cal Supreme squad to the showcase’s semifinals, where they were defeated by the eventual champs MOKAN Elite. Furthermore, he had a double-double in all but one of his seven outings, including a 23-point and 18-rebound performance vs the Phoenix Family, which features his former Hillcrest teammate Marvin Bagley (15 pts). The seven-footer, who has been ranked as the top player in the Class of 2017 the last couple of years made his case on why it should continue to remain that way.

Gary Trent Jr., 6-5, SG, Apple Valley (MN), Class of 2017: Finishing second in scoring behind Young with 24.8 points per game at Peach Jam, Trent Jr. demonstrated why he’s regarded as one of the top wings in the nation. His scoring clinic included a 38-point outing against the eventual champs MOKAN Elite. He finished with 22 or more points in all but one of his five games in North Augusta, including a couple of 30+ point outings.

Hamidou Diallo, 6-5, SG, Putnam Science (CT), Class of 2017: One of the most explosive prospects in the senior class, Diallo’s high-flying athleticism makes him a highlight-reel waiting to happen every time he steps on the floor. The guard out of Queens, NY, exploded for 27 points and 13 rebounds against BABC on Friday. A year ago, Diallo was barely ranked in the top-80, yet today is recognized as a top-10 national prospect.

Mitchell Robinson, 6-11, C, Chalmette High (LA), Class of 2017: The big man out of New Orleans demonstrated his dominance in the lane and particularly showcased his force against the Phoenix Family and Marvin Bagley, when he posted a stat line of 19 points and 13 rebounds. A double-double machine who averaged 15.5 points and 11.6 rebounds during the EYBL regular season, Robinson, who recently committed to Western Kentucky, is also a blocking machine who averaged 4.6 blocks in his five Peach Jam games, including seven rejections against Albany City Rocks.

Chaundee Brown, 6-5, SG, The First Academy (FL), Class of 2017: One of the most consistent prospects in the tourney, Robinson scored 20 or more points in all five of his outings, finishing among the top 5 scorers in the showcase during pool play. One would think his stock will be on the rise after last week’s performances.

Jordan Goodwin, 6-5, SG, Althoff (IL), Class of 2017: Despite being a guard mostly positioned out on the perimeter, Goodwin managed to finish with a double-double in all but one of his five games last week as he continuously crashed the boards, ultimately finishing with an average of 21.8 points and 11.0 rebounds for the showcase — good enough for top-6 in both categories.

Photos Credit: Jon Lopez/Nike

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The 12-member World Select Team today was announced for the 2016 Nike Hoop Summit. The premier annual basketball game featuring many of the world’s leading basketball players aged 19 years old or younger, the 19th annual summit will take place at 12 p.m. PDT on Saturday, April 9 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

 

The annual game pits the World Select Team against the USA Basketball Junior National Select Team, which is composed of elite American high school senior boys.

 

Featuring players from 10 different countries, the 2016 World Select Team includes: Edin Atic (AEK Athens, Greece/Bosnia & Herzegovina), DeAndre Ayton (Hillcrest Academy, Ariz./Bahamas), Isaia Cordinier (Denain ASC Voltaire/France), Andres Feliz (West Oaks Academy, Fla./Dominican Republic), Harry Froling (Australian Institute of Sports/Australia), Justin Jackson (Hill Academy/Canada), Thon Maker (Orangeville Prep, Canada/Australia), Lauri Markkanen (HBA-Marsky Helsinki/Finland), William McDowell-White (Ignatius Park College/Australia), Wesley “Mogi” Silva (Paulistano/Unimed Sao Paolo/Brazil), Martynas Varnas (Zalgiris Kaunas II/Lithuania) and Ziming Fan (Foshan Long Lions/China).

 

Tickets for the 2016 Nike Hoop Summit are on sale now. Lower bowl seating starts at just $10, and courtside seats are $35 and $50. Service charges apply. Tickets are available at bit.ly/NHXtix the Rose Quarter Box Office or by calling 800-745-3000.

 

The World Team is chasing its fourth victory in the last five games. The World Team beat the USA 84-75 in 2012 and 112-98 in 2013. In 2014, the hosts tallied an 84-73 victory, but the World Team responded with a thrilling 103-101 win last year.

 

Participation in the game is seen as a step towards professional play. As of October 2015, 111 Hoop Summit alumni were active in the NBA, nearly one-quarter of the entire league, and a total of 178 Hoop Summit alumni have been drafted professionally.

 

Seven-foot forward Maker returns for his second Nike Hoop Summit, having scored two points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 14 minutes in last year’s game.

 

Maker, an Australian national originally from South Sudan, started in last season’s Nike Hoop Summit. He will attend college in the USA in the 2016-17 season.

 

Additional forwards include 6-foot-11 Froling and 6-foot-8 Jackson. Froling verbally committed to play college basketball at Southern Methodist University for the 2016-17 season. He was named MVP of the Basketball Without Borders tournament in Toronto in February 2016.

 

Jackson, who signed a National Letter of Intent with UNLV, averaged 14.8 points per game for Canada at the FIBA U19 World Championship in Greece last summer.
The World Team has also named five guards to its 2016 roster: 6-foot-6 Atic, 6-foot-5 Cordinier, 6-foot-1 Feliz, 6-foot-4 McDowell White, 6-foot-6 Silva and 6-foot-5 Varnas.

 

Atic is on loan with OKK Spars Sarajevo in his homeland from his Greek club AEK Athens. He averaged 16.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for his national team, being named to the all-tournament first team as they reached the semi-finals of the 2015 FIBA Europe U18 Championship.

 

French guard Cordinier, who plays for Denain in Pro B, the second tier of professional basketball in France, is averaging 11.4 points in 24.0 minutes per game, as well as establishing himself on the U20 French national team.

 

Feliz was the leading scorer at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship in Greece, averaging 18.9 points per game. He has signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of South Florida for next season.

 

McDowell-White is one of three Australians on the team, and he enjoyed an outstanding 2015 FIBA U19 World Championships with his national team, averaging 7.4 points, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

 

Brazil’s Mogi is a guard/forward with Sao Paolo club Paulistano, where he has established himself on the senior team this season.

 

Varnas, one of two Lithuanians on the World Team, plays for Zalgiris Kaunas II, the farm team for the country’s powerhouse club. Playing in the second-tier NKL, he is averaging 14.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He was a key member of the Lithuania team that won bronze at the 2015 FIBA Europe U18 Championship.

 

The global squad is completed by 7-foot forward/center Markkanen and 7-foot centers Ayton and Ziming.

 

Markkanen is in Finland’s first division, the second level of the pro game in his homeland, where he is averaging an impressive 21.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He has signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Arizona. With his national team, he was the tournament’s leading scorer at the 2015 FIBA Europe U18 Championship with 18.2 points per game.

 

Ayton, a native of the Bahamas who currently is at an Arizona high school, is considered by many as the top player in the 2017 recruiting class.

 

Finally, Ziming is in the junior program of professional club the Foshan Long Lions and has played for the China national team at U17 and U18 levels.

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With events in twenty cities throughout the country, The Grind Session pegs top players such as Josh Jackson, De’Andre Ayton, Thon Maker, and Miles Bridges against each other throughout the year. Rivalries are both made and settled, while also giving fans an opportunity to see some of the best high school basketball players in the USA without leaving their home turf. The Houston stop just was just another example of this, as fans, scouts, and college coaches all saw throughout the eight game slate in South Houston at Victory Prep.

Here are a few of the players who stood out from the Houston leg of The Grind Session:

DeAndre Ayton, 7-0, PF/C, Hillcrest Prep (AZ), 2017

The top player in the class of 2017 may have lost his running mate in Marvin Bagley due to transfer, but that didn’t stop him from showing out in Houston. A simply ridiculously fluid 7-footer, Ayton showed the type of inside/out game that made him the consensus top dog in the class. He showed off a soft jump hook, was exceptional running the floor, and hit countless jumpers out to the three point line facing up. While the KG comparisons may be a bit premature right now, the 36 and 14 that he put up certainly got the conversation going.

Onuralp Bitim, 6-5, SG, Huntington Prep (WV), 2017

A heralded overseas prospect, Bitim was a lade addition to this year’s Huntington Prep squad that looks like a whole new group than when we saw them against Oak Hill last month. At 6-foot-5, he showed off crazy court vision, had no problem creating his own shot, and proved that he could get up well above the rim on finishes. Onuralp’s high IQ and super skill level should make him one of the more highly sought after 2-guards in the class of 2017.

Curtis Jones, 6-3, PG/SG, Huntington Prep (WV), 2016

This was a totally different Curtis Jones than we saw versus Oak Hill, as he made it a point to let all onlookers know how serious of a prospect he is. “CuJO” shot the lights out from beyond the arc, was unstoppable going at the rack with his right hand, and seemingly got wherever he wanted on the court. Finishing up the night with 33 points and 5 dimes, Jones showed why Indiana fans are so excited to get him to Bloomington.

JJ Caldwell, 5-11, PG, SATCH (TX), 2016

One of the better pure point guards in the country, JJ Caldwell made it a point to get absolutely everyone the pill during SATCH’s upset victory over Hillcrest. With a build similar to that of Kyle Lowry, Caldwell busted out a great change of pace and was incredibly shifty attacking the rim. Not coincidentally, the Texas A&M recruit was named MVP after posting 14 points, 12 dimes, and 6 boards against Hillcrest.

Miles Bridges, 6-6, SF, Huntington Prep (WV), 2016

One of the better small forwards in the country, Miles Bridges came out on top of his matchup with top-5 junior Jarred Vanderbilt. The powerful lefty crushed the rim with his dunks, finished at the rim with both hands, and was a physically punishing defender. Bridges’ hard nosed style of play will allow him to fit in perfectly in East Lansing.

Jachai Taylor, 6-5, SF, Planet Athlete (AZ), 2016

A product of Waukegon, Illinois, Jachai Taylor made the move across the country for a post grad year and it has certainly paid off. Taylor showed off his crazy bounce on a number of dunks, has an explosive first step, and had no problem knocking down threes when left open. Still on the board, Taylor should have a chance to blow up for the late signing period.

Justin Whitfield, 6-5, SF, SATCH (TX), 2017

Another addition to the SATCH program, Justin Whitfield brought the type of diverse game that Hillcrest didn’t know how to match. He hit open three pointers, showed off nice court vision, and showed the ability to lock down on multiple positions. Things are just getting started in the recruiting process for Whitfield, who has heard from programs such as Rice, Stanford, and Tulsa.

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Ayton didn’t begin playing until late May at the third and final UAA session in New York, where he put up 15 and 15, 28 and 13, and 18 and 19 in three of his four outings.

Right behind him is Wendell Carter, who enjoyed an impressive run with the Georgia Stars in the prestigious Nike EYBL circuit, where he averaged 12.3 points and 8.1 rebounds before winning the 17U championship after defeating the St. Louis Eagles in thePeach Jam title game.

All in all, this class features a nice mix of inside and outside talent. We’ll update the list twice more throughout the season and expand it to 50 by the spring.

(Photo Credit: Atiba Jefferson)

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But before the players hit the floor, check a quick run down of what each player has done in their respective prep careers to have earned an invitation to the prestigious summer showcase.

Edrice Adebayo
Pinetown (NC) Northside | F, 6-10, 240 | Class of 2016
With video game-like stats of 32.2 ppg, 21.0 rpg and 4.5 bpg as a junior, there’s no denying that Edrice Adebayo’s power in the paint is on another level. So his nickname “Bam Bam,” which he received as a 1-year-old in reference to the super strong toddler on The Flintstones, couldn’t have been more accurate. After leading Northside to the 1A Eastern Regional Final game, Adebayo finished as the state’s leading scorer and rebounder.

Jarrett Allen
Austin (TX) St. Stephen’s Episcopal School | C, 6-9, 225 | Class of 2016
Named All-Central Texas POY by the Austin American-Statesman, Allen showed his double-double prowess last season when he averaged 21.4 ppg, 13.3 rpg and 4.1 bpg in 30 contests. The senior lead the Spartans to a 27-6 record and the Southwest Preparatory Conference title after dropping 17 in the Final. In 10 games against UIL (University Interscholastic League)-affiliated schools, he averaged 18.9 ppg, 10.9 rpg and 4.5 bpg.

Deandre Ayton
San Diego (CA) Balboa City School F, 6-10, 235 | Class of 2017
While having only lived in the United States since September of 2011 after relocating from the Bahamas, DeAndre Ayton has quickly risen to become the top prospect in the Class of 2017. Last season, in his first year of high school basketball and despite playing a national schedule, the big man averaged 21.1 points, 16 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game, shooting 67 percent from the floor and drawing comparisons to Kevin Garnett in the process due to his versatility.

Udoka Azubuike
Jacksonville (FL) Potter’s House Christian | C, 6-11, 265 | Class of 2016
Despite only having three-plus years of experience playing basketball, Azubuike, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, who was discovered at a Basketball Without Borders clinic in his home country in 2012, has emerged to five-star prospect status in the United States. He reportedly averaged 17.2 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 72 percent from the floor last season, drawing Shaq-like comparisons along the way.

Troy Brown Jr.
Las Vegas (NV) Centennial | G, 6-5, 185 | Class of 2017
Hooping at the Elite 24 Game for a second straight year, Brown Jr. is your modern-day tall and lengthy point guard. Having already drawn an offer from UNLV since before he ever played his first varsity game as a freshman, Brown has been on the radar since Day 1. Last season as a sophomore, he averaged 16.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists per outing, earning first-team all-state selection.

Hamidou Diallo
Woodstock (CT) Academy | G, 6-4, 175 | Class of 2017
A native of Queens, NY, Diallo played two seasons at local John Bowne HS before transferring to Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut last season while also reclassifying from the Class of 2016 to 2017. He led the NY Jayhawks in scoring with 13.7 ppg this summer on the Under Armour Association travel circuit. A five-star prospect with a long list of offers, his Putnam program will be moving to Woodstock this fall due to the school closing.

Trevon Duval
Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s | G, 6-3, 175 | Class of 2017
A five-star recruit from Wilmington, DE, Duval has turned heads over the past two years while balling in New Jersey. Last season, he averaged 15.9 points per game en route to helping lead St. Benedict’s to the Prep A title as a sophomore. This summer he led the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp in assists with 4.7 dimes per game, while also averaging 13.3 points, including a showcase-best 30-point performance.

Jalek Felton
Mullins (SC) High | G, 6-3, 175 | Class of 2017
Returning to the Elite 24 for a second straight year, this rising junior earned South Carolina Morning News Player of the Year last season after averaging 28.7 points, 6.5 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. Two years into his high school career, Felton, nephew of Dallas Mavericks guard Raymond Felton, has already surpassed the 1,000 career-point milestone. He announced last December that he plans to suit up for UNC in college just like his uncle did.Terrance Ferguson

Terrance Ferguson
Dallas (TX) Prime | G, 6-6, 180 | Class of 2016
A member of this summer’s USA Basketball U19 FIBA World Championship gold medal-winning squad, Ferguson was only one of four high school players on the team that traveled to Greece. Highly touted for his versatility, the celebrated swingman, who shared the backcourt with UA endorser and Denver Nuggets rookie Emmanuel Mudiay just a couple of seasons ago as a sophomore, was named second-team All-UAA this summer.

Markelle Fultz
Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha | G, 6-4, 170 | Class of 2016
Just last year, Fultz was an unranked sophomore on the JV team; today he’s a top-20 prospect in the Class of 2016. After waiting for his turn at DMV powerhouse DeMatha, playing on the freshman team as a 9th grader and JV as a sophomore, Fultz broke out as a junior in his first varsity season, earning WCAC (Washington Catholic Athletic Conference) POY while leading the top-ranked Stags with 16.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 4.3 apg.

Dewan Huell
Miami (FL) Norland | F, 6-10, 215 | Class of 2016
Huell, who was named Class 6A Player of the Year last season as a junior, helped lead the Vikings to their fourth straight state title after reportedly averaging 19.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocks. The road to fourpeating was made possible by a Huell’s 40-point outburst in a close regional finals game. Norland became the first Miami-Dade County boys’ team to fourpeat while also only the fifth team in state history to do so.

Frank Jackson
Highland (UT) Lone Peak | G, 6-4, 180 | Class of 2016
The third nationally ranked guard slated to come out of Utah powerhouse Lone Peak in the past four years, Jackson transferred to the school as a sophomore after dropping 30 points on the Knights while at Lehi HS as a freshman. After helping lead Lone Peak to a fourth consecutive state title as a sophomore, Jackson, once a BYU commit before re-opening his recruitment last fall, returned last season and averaged 26.9 ppg and 4.5 rpg.

Josh Jackson
Napa (CA) Prolific Prep | G, 6-7, 185 | Class of 2016
Returning to the Elite 24 Game for a second consecutive year, Jackson averaged 18.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists this summer playing for 1 Nation on the Under Armour Association travel circuit. A candidate for top player in the Class of 2016, this San Diego born swingman grew up in Detroit, where he led Consortium High to its first-ever state title and won local POY honors before moving to California for his junior year.

Justin Jackson
Findlay (NV) Prep | F, 6-7, 215 | Class of 2016
A UNLV commit, Jackson is just the latest Canada native to come into the United States and emerge as one of the nation’s top recruits. Hooping at national powerhouse Findlay Prep, the Scarborough, Ontario native averaged 14.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season. This summer he represented the Canadian U19 national team at the FIBA World Championships in Greece, where he averaged 14.8 points and helped lead them to a fifth-place finish.

Mario Kegler
Mouth of Wilson (FL) Oak Hill Academy | F, 6-7, 195 | Class of 2016
After hooping alongside Elite 24 alum and 2015 McDonald’s All-American Malik Newman as a sophomore, where he helped lead Callaway (MS) to its third straight state title, Kegler transferred to Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville (FL) last season. Always looking for the next challenge, he has announced he will finish off his prep career at national power Oak Hill Academy this upcoming season. At his most recent tourney last month in Vegas he averaged 17.4 points and eight rebounds.

TJ Leaf
El Cajon (CA) Foothills Christian | F, 6-9, 215 | Class of 2016
A one-time Arizona commit, Leaf re-opened his recruitment earlier this month. He averaged 27.4 points, 14.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.6 blocks in 35 games last season as a junior, ultimately leading the Knights to the Coastal League and San Diego Section Division II titles. After the season, he was named the San Diego Union-Tribune Player of the Year. A native of Tel Aviv, Leaf played for Israel in the U18 European Championships this summer.

Shamorie Ponds
Brooklyn (NY) Thomas Jefferson | G, 6-0, 155 | Class of 2016
After a breakout junior season averaging 25 ppg, 8 rpg and 6 apg—including a 44-point outing in a non-league matchup—to lead Thomas Jefferson to the PSAL (Public School Athletic League) semi-finals, Ponds was subsequently named the Daily News Brooklyn Player of the Year. Known for his agility and scoring prowess, the rising senior helped lead the Orange Wave to the city title game as a sophomore, starting his first year on varsity.

Thon Maker
Orangeville (ONT) Athlete Institute F, 7-0, 205 | Class of 2016
Returning to the Elite 24 Game for another year, Maker led his youth travel team, Canada Elite, to the championship game of the UAA league after averaging 16.5 points and 11.8 rebounds at the UAA Finals in Suwanee, GA, this summer. The week prior, the Sudanese big man led all players at the Under Armour All-America Camp in rebounds (12.5 rpg) and blocks (2.2 bpg).

Billy Preston
Dallas (TX) Prime | F, 6-9, 220 | Class of 2017
After averaging 12.5 ppg and 7.2 rpg during the three regular-season sessions of the Under Armour Association circuit while playing for Mo Williams Academy Elite, Preston received first team All-UAA honors this summer. The rising junior hooped at Redondo Union HS in Southern California his freshman year and mid-way through his sophomore season before transferring to the now-defunct Prime Prep Academy in Dallas last January.

Dennis Smith Jr. (Injured)
Fayetteville (NC) Trinity Christian | G, 6-3, 180 | Class of 2016
Though injured and unable to play in this year’s game, Dennis Smith Jr. is a walking highlight-reel when healthy. After having averaged 21.8 points and leading the Crusaders to a 23-10 record and the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association’s Class 1A state semifinals, the five-star guard earned the North Carolina Boys Gatorade Player of the Year honor last season as a junior.

MJ Walker
Jonesboro (GA) High | G, 6-5, 205 | Class of 2017
A two-sport standout athlete who holds DI scholarship offers in football from an array of BCS programs, Walker can also hold his own on the hardwood. Last season as a sophomore, he earned Region 4-A Player of the Year after averaging 17.3 points per game and leading Jonesboro to a second straight state title. He dropped 30 points in the semis and followed it with a 22-point outing in the championship game.

Seventh Woods
Columbia (SC) Hammond | G, 6-2, 175 | Class of 2016
A YouTube prep basketball Hall of Famer, Woods is regarded as one of the most athletic and explosive players at the high school level. He led Hammond to the SCISA (South Carolina Independent School Association) Class 3A state title after averaging 16.3 ppg, 3.7 apg and 3.6 spg last season as a junior. The championship ended a 16-year drought for Hammond after Woods scored 17 of his game-high 19 in the fourth quarter of the title game.

Kobi Simmons
Alpharetta (GA) St. Francis | G, 6-5, 170 | Class of 2016
Originating from Brooklyn, Kobi Simmons has been tearing up the prep scene down South for the past three years. Having led the Knights to three consecutive state title game appearances, and having won the past two years, this rising senior has emerged as one of the top guards in the Class of 2016. After averaging 21.2 points and 4.2 assists last season as a junior, he’ll be looking for a fourth straight trip to the state championship game this upcoming season.

Rawle Alkins
Middle Village (NY) Christ the King | G, 6-5, 230 | Class of 2016
A Canarsie, BK, native, Alkins, who averaged over 20 points last season as a junior, is the only one to ever play varsity at NYC powerhouse Christ the King Regional HS since freshman year—despite a long alumni list that includes the likes of Lamar Odom and Speedy Claxton. The rising senior led CTK to the city title the past three seasons, the first CHSAA (Catholic High School Athletic Association) program to three-peat in 34 years.

Wenyen Gabriel
Wilbraham (MA) Wilbraham & Monson Academy | F, 6-9, 205 | Class of 2016
Unranked and without a single scholarship offer just a year ago, Gabriel has risen up the charts this summer just as fast as anyone in the prep scene. He transferred to Wilbraham & Monson last season, opting to repeat his junior year and reclassify to the Class of 2016. With a reported 7-1 wingspan and an inside-outside threat, he put up 21 points and 13 rebounds last month in Las Vegas on national television for any remaining doubters.

(All images courtesy of Under Armour)

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Alexander, a 6-3 rising junior, had just came off a 19-point performance in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Canada Elite was led by five-star center Thon Maker, who finished the weekend averaging 16.5 points and a league-best 11.8 rebounds. The second leading scorer for the weekend was also member of Canada Elite, as Justin Jackson, a rising senior forward at national powerhouse Findlay Prep, grabbed seven boards per outing fo.

Below are the official final statistical leaders for the entire 2015 UAA season. Scroll through the photo gallery above to see some of the top ballers of the weekend in action.

Points Per Game
Kameron McGusty 23.0
Josh Jackson 19.2
Markelle Fultz 18.3
Trevon Duval 18.2
LeGerald Vick 17.8

Rebounds Per Game
DeAndre Ayton 13.5
Edrice Adebayo 10.5
Josh Jackson 10.4
Dewan Huell 9.1
Thon Maker 8.3

Assists Per Game
Joseph Caldwell 6.8
Trevon Duval 4.5
Otis Livingston 4.1
Alzie Travis 3.7
Seventh Woods 3.5

Steals Per Game
Will Rayman 2.5
Aaron Augustine 2.3
Josh Jackson 2.2
Trevon Duval 2.2
Rashond Salnave 2.2

Blocks Per Game
Thon Maker 3.2
DeAndre Ayton 2.2
Jordey Tshimango 2.0
Reed Nikko 1.8
Chris Lewis 1.8

The post 2015 Under Armour Association Finals (STATS & PHOTOS) appeared first on SLAM.

But for the 16-year-old, it’s the distinctiveness of the curtains that piques his curiosity and leads to an array of questions about the locale to his head coach and guardian Zack Jones. As Jones begins to explain that the place hasn’t changed its look since the ’90s and that Maritza’s brothers are cooking in the back while she handles the counter, Ayton seems to be really into the details.

“Wow, that’s crazy,” he says, leaning back on his chair in awe while facing the kitchen. “Never heard of that.”

The conversation and overall dining out is a nice change of pace and break from the intense basketball chatter that’s about to be the main focus tonight (and over the upcoming weekend) when the 6-10 rising junior heads over to practice to prepare for his 2015 summer youth circuit debut in Ardsley, NY, during Memorial Day weekend.

Ayton’s much-anticipated participation in Session 3 of the Under Armour Association, the brand’s elite league for its sponsored summer travel teams, will be the talk of the weekend for the national recruiting analysts in attendance looking to catch his return to the hardwood after sitting out the beginning of spring nursing a fractured right kneecap he suffered in February.

As he finishes his chicken quesadilla and carne asada burrito, the 16-year-old nods his head in recognition of the importance of the upcoming weekend trip to the Big Apple.

“I’ll be ready,” he says. “I’ve been getting ready every day this week, just going at it hard the last couple of weeks. Coach Zack and I have been talking about it. Like, don’t do too much. It’s not an open period, so if you feel some way we can lay off it a bit because we have a big summer coming up. It’s just about how my knee is going to feel. I’m not worried about the competition. Just need to take care of things on our end.”

***

Ayton’s journey to becoming one of the top prospects in America (and many would argue he’s the top prospect, regardless of class) began in the Bahamas in the summer of 2011 when he attended the Jeff Rodgers Basketball Camp. There, he turned heads with his play. Raw but displaying unlimited upside, he ended up as the talk of a camp he initially had no interest in attending.

“I didn’t really want to go at first, but my mom convinced me to go,” he recalls of the Rodgers Camp, which annually features NBA players as instructors. “I didn’t really watch basketball back home. I just played a lot of soccer barefooted. That was my first sport. They had the basketball games on TV, but I just wasn’t interested.”

By the end of the camp, his mother was already being approached by Bahamians now living in the United States with ties to American schools. Relocating to the US seemed like the next logical step, and Ayton quickly realized that maybe he should give hoops a serious shot.

Later that summer he began visiting potential schools to attend. Among them was one in Houston, where he says he got the unique opportunity of meeting Hakeem Olajuwon.

“He told me to just keep working on my footwork and stay motivated,” Ayton says. “I began watching his videos. He was the first guy I really watched.”

The family opted not to pursue the Houston school, eventually agreeing on Balboa City School in San Diego. Ayton moved to Southern California that September and began classes immediately as a seventh grader. Located across the street from the Balboa Park that’s home to the world famous San Diego Zoo, the private school is remarkably small, with a cumulative student body of about 120 in grades K-12, leaving many classroom sizes in the single digits.

“I told my mom I was on a mission at age 12,” says Ayton. “I knew what I wanted. I knew what my mom and family were going through. I came over here for business—to work.”

BCS isn’t the kind place you’d initially think the top prospect in the nation would call home. The school is so small it doesn’t even have a gym, and it actually didn’t even have a high school basketball team until this past season. Despite being around since 1991, the school didn’t even have a sports department until 2012, when Jones brought his Force Sports Foundation to operate as the athletics program there. He and his partner Ryan Stone founded Force Sports in 2010 as a recreational program for kids in the San Diego community. Jones, a native of Washington, DC, who played college ball at San Diego State, has been around the basketball prep scene in the area for a long time.

He was the head coach at Horizon HS when Milwaukee Bucks forward Jared Dudley helped lead the school to back-to-back state championships in 2000 and 2001. It’s a record that still stands today, as no other school in San Diego has ever repeated consecutively as state champs.

Aside from not having its own gymnasium and a sports program that peculiarly began after Ayton’s arrival, BCS also isn’t under the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) umbrella and thus can’t schedule regular-season games against most other programs in the state. The advantages, though, are that it doesn’t have to abide by any of the restrictions the CIF imposes. Therefore, it can hold practices year-round and play a national schedule. Among the top national players they competed against last year were Thon Maker’s Orangeville Prep of Canada, Terrance Ferguson’s Prime Prep of Texas, Udoka Azubuike’s Potter’s House Christian of Florida and Josh Jackson’s Prolific Prep of Napa, CA. The program also went south of the border to play a couple of Mexican universities.

“During my years at Horizon, there were always kids in the community that wanted to go to school there, but because of CIF restrictions they never could,” says Jones. “I always felt like if a kid wanted that opportunity and experience, why not provide it for him? So when we put this program together with Balboa, we decided not to go the CIF route. We wanted to give kids who wanted to come in and play at a high level the opportunity to do so.”

During Ayton’s seventh, eighth and ninth grades, Balboa City simply played a few games at a local YMCA league during the winter months/regular season while the majority of time was dedicated to skill development. Meanwhile, camps and the summer grassroots circuit were utilized for exposure.

Despite not playing a single minute of high school basketball as a freshman, Ayton entered last summer as the top prospect in the Class of 2017, all due to his showings in the summer circuit. It’s this kind of unorthodox journey that makes his emergence as a blue chipper in America as unique of a basketball story as it gets. Here is a kid from the Bahamas who only began taking up hoops seriously after participating in a camp that his mother talked him into attending at the age of 12, and who has quietly risen into one of the most coveted recruits over the past four years in a school that basically didn’t even have an athletic program when he enrolled. The basketball program at BCS has essentially grown around Ayton. If everything goes according to plan, it may very well be known one day as the Program That DeAndre Ayton Built.

Last summer, he was one of only five rising sophomores to be invited to the LeBron James Skills Academy. Yes, despite not having any formal high school basketball experience under his belt. And it didn’t take long before he and the NBA superstar connected—on an alley.

“LeBron threw me that alley-oop in front of those NBA scouts,” Ayton recalls excitedly. “He threw it pretty high and so I went up there and got it. I said, I’m catching this one. He mushed me a little bit, a little pound on the head. I felt super hype. I didn’t want to show too much. I kept it in until I got back to the hotel room to start shouting.”

But it was his play back home in August that caught the attention of the college bball world. He suited up for a summer league exhibition team called the Providence Storm in the nation’s capital of Nassau. The squad was mostly composed of college players and a couple of overseas pros. Ayton was the only high schooler on the team. Their opponent on August 15? The UNC Tar Heels. Behind 17 points and 18 rebounds from the teen wonder, the Storm pulled off a shocker by defeating North Carolina 84-83. And yes, UNC had their regular players on the court that night.

“The coach at UNC was pretty mad,” Ayton says with a smile. “He was yelling, ‘Somebody stop him!’ He was pretty mad and I loved it.”

He returned to BCS last fall as a sophomore for his high school season debut (also the inaugural season for BCS), where he averaged 21.1 points, 16 rebounds and 3.8 blocks. He shot 67 percent from the floor while finishing with a double-double in all but one of his 22 games. His first season was cut short after that kneecap fracture in February, which caused him to miss the last month and half of play.

Widely regarded as a young Kevin Garnett, Ayton has an NBA-bound body to go along with a versatility and athleticism that isn’t found on too many young ballers his size. He can put the ball on the floor and step out for long jumpers.

“I think he’s a little more athletic, has a better jump shot and can handle the ball better,” says Jones of Ayton’s game, comparing him to a young Big Ticket. “I think he’s a little ahead of the game than KG was coming out of high school.”

Not only are their games similar—so is their intensity and competitiveness.

“I don’t like to lose,” says Ayton. “When I play, I don’t like to see people win—I get jealous and angry. I want to take it from you because I want to be the top guy. I want to be that guy. So that’s when my competitiveness kicks in and that’s when I start to dominate.”

***

After arriving in New York on Thursday night, Ayton and his Supreme Court travel team waited until 10 p.m. on Friday to finally get on the court. When they did, despite his timing not being completely there after returning from his knee injury, Ayton easily dropped 15 points and 15 rebounds in a 2-point loss. Carrying that momentum to the next morning, he then posted a 28-point and 13-rebound outing on his way to a victory. He ended the weekend on Sunday with 18 points, 19 boards and 5 blocks while falling short to the Houston Defenders. Not a bad weekend for someone who hadn’t played in a basketball game in months.

“The reason I wear No. 0 is because I came from nothing,” says Ayton. “If I stay hungry and humbled, it will turn into an actual valuable digit one day.

“I used to Google my name and see no results,” he continues, “and I wondered, Why is my name not up here too? I told myself my name was going to be there in a positive way—and it’s finally here.”

Franklyn Calle is an Assistant Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @FrankieC7.

portraits by Atiba Jefferson

The post Rising Sun appeared first on SLAM.

Here are some players who exposed their talent:

Sedrick Barefield, 6-2, Senior PG, Corona Centennial (CA)

Sedrick Barefield is a flat-out bucket getter. He knows his spots on the floor and with his superb handle and quickness, it’s a difficult task for any defender to try and stick him. Those that try are likely to end up on his highlight reel. The SMU commit capped in 16 points and a few oohs and awes in Saturday’s 63-54 W over perennial powerhouse Westchester (CA).

Lonzo Ball, 6-5, Junior SG, Chino Hills (CA)

Aside from Thon Maker, UCLA commit Lonzo Ball might be the second most exciting player in the Class of 2016 to watch. There’s no doubt that he could get 50 on any given night, but Ball’s unselfishness makes his game that much better. And his IQ? Second to none. He uses his lanky frame to alter defenders’ shots and plays the court like a safety using his quickness to get into the passing lanes for layups on the other end. He messed around and got a triple-double (28 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) and MVP honors in Chino Hills’ 40-34 win over Alemany (CA).

Stephen Thompson, 6-4, Senior SG, Bishop Montgomery (CA)

Smooth is the first word that comes to mind when you see Stevie Thompson play. He doesn’t have a quick first step or an array of crossovers, but he knows how to play the game well and how to make his defender pay the price if they make a mistake on defense. Thompson plays north and south and uses angles on the court to his advantage. And his ability to let it fly from three makes the Oregon State commit that much more lethal.

Thon Maker, 7-1, Junior F, Orangeville Prep (ON)

No matter the event or state, Thon Maker is going to perform at his highest level every time he hits the court. Dubbed as the No. 1 player in the Class of 2016, Maker is out to prove every game why he belongs at that spot. And somewhere in between the 32 minutes of the game, you can always expect a highlight from the seven-footer—as Balboa City (CA) guard Jeremi Hanks soon learned after he found himself under the basket (and on BallisLife) after Maker slammed it home for the off-the-backboard alley-oop from teammate Jamal Murray. After sitting out on the first night against Future College Prep (CA), Maker made his Take Flight debut earning MVP honors with 18 points, three blocks and the 55-48 victory against Balboa City during Saturday night’s grand finale game.

Gligjorije Rakocevic, 6-11, Senior C, Cantwell-Sacred Heart (CA)

The Montenegro native currently living in the states is as fundamentally sound as they come. Rakocevic has a very soft touch for his size and can knock down that five-to-seven foot turnaround with ease—no matter the hand. He’s also a lot to handle down low in the paint as Loyola (CA) center Henry Welsh figured that out trying to contain the 245 pounder in Cantwell’s 62-55 victory over the No. 17-ranked team.

DeAndre Ayton, 6-11, Sophomore F, Balboa City School (CA)

Ayton’s young KG-like body type and skillset at his age has college coaches across the nation salivating. His willingness to make it a priority to grab every rebound makes watching the youngster that much more exciting as he led in that category against Orangeville Prep with 12. Ranked No. 1 in the Class of 2017, Ayton went toe-to-toe with Thon Maker, who needs no introduction. Although Maker got the best of Ayton holding him to nine points, he made his presence known after he blocked Makers’ shot in the first quarter. Ayton’s going to be fun to watch on the hardwood these next two years.

Bennie Boatwright Jr., 6-9, Senior PF, Village Christian (CA)

One key factor that separates Bennie from other guys his size is his ability to shoot the ball from beyond the arc. His textbook jump shot is pure from beginning to end and that backspin is a thing of beauty to see from a big guy. Boatwright knows his spots and uses his shot to his advantage, occasionally stepping out making it difficult for true centers to stick with him. Some other key attributes are his footwork and court vision. When he wasn’t scoring, Boatwright surveyed the floor dishing out to open teammates and split defenses making Santa Monica (CA) think twice about double-teaming the future USC Trojan—who finished with 20 points and the MVP award in Village Christian’s 54-42 win over the Knights.

Aaron Holiday, 6-2, Senior PG, Campbell Hall (CA)

Explosive. Quick. All of the above. After Holiday breaks his defender down, he gets to the rim at will and his mid-range jumper is serious. He seemed to be on cruise control and toyed with whoever was in front of him as the Vikings dominated Mayfair (CA) inFriday night’s 76-42 W. Holiday also earned MVP honors and is keeping the family tradition of staying in the Pac 12, following older brother Jrue’s footsteps as a UCLA Bruin next season.

Ron Freeman, 6-6, Senior G, Future College Prep (CA)

Ron Freeman has a score-first mentality. He’s never met a shot he didn’t like, which at times makes him get a bit trigger-happy. Freeman’s insane athleticism also gets the crowd going. He displayed that with a reverse dunk in Friday night’s win over Orangeville Prep. A few minutes later, he brought more tricks out of the bag as he and Nu Williams (Santa Monica HS) battled it in the championship round of the Take Flight Dunk Contest.

(Photo Credit: Cassey Athena)

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In addition, with just 10 names as the limit for this list, there are many players who were cut but could easily be argued for.

Starting off at the top spot is Troy Brown Jr, who last season as a freshman averaged 15.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He received an offer from UNLV before having played a single HS game. So yeah, he’s not too bad.

DeAndre Ayton can also be made a case for. He didn’t play high school basketball last year but showed out in the EYBL U16 circuit with California Supreme this past offseason.

Nonetheless, you can’t go wrong with either one, or relatively speaking, with any of the fellas listed below.

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From our friends at Ballislife, we have some footage of DeAndre Ayton, an eighth grader who appears to be light years ahead of the competition. Ayton, who stands at 6-10, shows similarities to pros like Kevin Durant simply because of his size and ability to shoot the ball. But since Ayton is slated to graduate high school with the Class of ’17, he’s a long way off from making the jump to the next level; until then, he’s a prospect many scouts will keep their eyes on.

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