Suns Center Deandre Ayton Flashing New Signs of Life
We're in the midst of international play at the professional basketball level, as a mixture of Olympic qualifiers and World Cup prep has seen the biggest names in the sport represent their country ahead of the new NBA season.
Though the Phoenix Suns have a few notable names - both past and present on the hardwood, there's one name that's making serious noise: Deandre Ayton.
Ayton isn't the best player in Phoenix, nor the second or third-best, either. On a roster stacked with players such as Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, Ayton best slides in as a fourth option.
That's not a bad problem to have if you're Phoenix, and perhaps Ayton can make the most of more advantageous matchups with so much attention being drawn elsewhere.
Yet the Suns have paid admission to this movie before, hoping for Ayton to turn it up a notch and reach the potential he flashed when they selected him with the No. 1 pick years ago.
That's yet to happen, though this offseason and his recent streak of play feels... different.
This isn't a proclamation that Ayton will reach superstar status and break into the All-NBA team, but the Arizona product does seem to have a different energy, demeanor and aggression about him that Suns fans have been gasping for since he entered the league.
Perhaps that involves the change at head coach, where Monty Williams was relieved of his duties just 48 hours after Phoenix bid goodbye in the postseason and Frank Vogel was hired soon after.
The relationship between the two could be described - at best - as rocky. More came to light when the Williams departed and confirmed what nearly everybody on the outside knew: The two simply didn't get along.
His performances for the Bahamas alongside Suns teammate Eric Gordon have led to some impressive numbers:
Beyond the stat sheet, Suns fans have been wanting to see a more aggressive version of the big man. He's displayed that, too.
Is Ayton on his way to a revival campaign?
It's far too early to make any such declarations. The level of NBA and international competition is completely different, and Ayton is getting more opportunity/looks as a primary option, something he won't regularly do (if at all) in a star-crowded Suns lineup.
However, this looks like a completely different version of Ayton, one Phoenix has dreamed of. Vogel spoke earlier in the offseason about maximizing Ayton:
"I think he can be one of the best centers in the league," said Vogel.
"I think he's shown that at times throughout his career, and I know he showed that when we played him in the playoffs a couple years back and he shot about 80% from the field and deterred every drive, every cut, every effort to attack the basket.
"He can be a big time deterrent. There's still areas that he can grow offensively. But I'm intent on really connecting with him and restoring him to an all star level player."
Vogel also mentioned in a separate interview the importance of establishing a healthy relationship with his center.
“I’m off to a great start with him from a relationship standpoint, in terms of understanding that if we want him to defend and rebound at an All-Star level, then we’re going to have to involve him a little more in the offense. That’s just basketball 101. You learn that as a youngster,” Vogel said to Sirius XM NBA Radio.
“You got to give those big guys the ball sometimes. When they get it, then they’ll run through the wall for you on the other end. I think we’re off to a great start with that - he’s going to be a big part of what we do.”
With a new coach, new roster and seemingly refreshed mentality, 2023 could very well be a step in the right direction for Ayton. Thus far, the early signs of his play would agree.
