![]() "We don't want to trade James Wiseman," Warriors general manager Bob Myers said Monday to reporters. "I think he's a tremendous talent. He's a pup in a league full of dogs out to pounce at any sign of weakness. This is a player who didn't turn 20 years old until March 31, and played 69 total minutes in college. Wiseman grabbed double-digit rebounds only three times in his 39 games played. Ayton averaged 19.1 points but 12.0 rebounds per 36 minutes as a rookie, for comparison's sake. But he did average 19.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per 36 minutes. These are all traits Wiseman can learn and bring to a winning Warriors team.īefore his season ended abruptly to a torn right meniscus, Wiseman averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. With experience under his belt, Ayton has turned into an elite defender and rim-runner, along with being one of the best at setting screens in the NBA. Ayton knows defense and rebounding has to be his foundation. In his third season in the league, Ayton's Offensive Rating has jumped to 127 and he guards high-scoring players with success on a nightly basis. "Defense is so important to my play style and that’s what creates my offense and that’s what helps my team score," Ayton said to Charania. "Defense wins games - and that’s what I want to be known for when I’m done with this thing." 2 seed in the Western Conference, and Ayton deserves more credit for that. His numbers dropped to 14.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this season, but with two All-Stars in Chris Paul and Devin Booker around him, along with an improved Mikal Bridges and a veteran in Jae Crowder, Ayton is a much better player now, one that vastly adds to winning. Still, the Suns failed to make the playoffs despite going undefeated in the restart from the bubble in Orlando. Those are numbers close to the 20 and 10 people envisioned from him coming out of college. Being physical, being a defensive anchor, trying my best to protect the defensive end of the floor.Īyton's stats improved to 18.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in his second season. Communicating with my voice, my ability to move and rebound and strength-wise. "I’m sticking to what I do best, affecting the game on both ends of the floor and mainly being a presence," Ayton to The Athletic's Shams Charania. "Being the size I am, embracing the length and size I am. He set a new Suns playoff debut record for rebounds, and became the first player since Bill Russell in Game 2 of the 1965 NBA Finals to shoot 90 percent or better in a 20-point, 15-rebound performance in a playoff game against the Lakers, according to ESPN Stats & Info. It looked like he was just another wrong decision by a front office full of them.īut in his playoff debut Sunday night, he continued to quiet all the negative noise.Īyton had more offensive rebounds than Davis had total rebounds. While he averaged 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds as a rookie, Ayton wasn't short on critics.Ĭompeting with fellow rookies like Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Jaren Jackson Jr., many questioned if Ayton was the right choice for the Suns. Ayton joined a lowly Suns team that won only 19 games his rookie year. 1 pick in the draft with expectations to be the league's next great young center. Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton could be the blueprint of growth Wiseman can turn to, as he looks to maximize both his ability and the Warriors' needs.Īyton has been in Wiseman's shoes before, just in different circumstances. ![]() There should be one player he's paying close attention to in the NBA playoffs right now, too. James Wiseman's rookie year wasn't what he expected, not even close.Īll hope shouldn't be lost on the extremely young 7-footer, though. His season ended early to injury, and the Warriors were much better without him down the stretch. He looked like a unicorn on some nights, lost on others.
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