“ I feel nothing. I’m about to play against the Phoenix Suns. » Deandre Ayton began by being as less talkative as the previous week, when he said he did not want to talk about his former team.
The Blazers pivot, who made his return to the Footprint Center last night, ended up saying a little more ahead of this meeting on the Suns floor, which he ultimately did not play. In civilian clothes on the Blazers bench, he was entitled to a modest round of applause from his former audience…
Think about today and not yesterday
His transfer this summer? He says he didn’t really see it coming because he was busier… working on his 3-point shot. “ I’m tired of people saying I can’t shoot 3-pointers. That is just about everything. I was just working on my 3-point shot “, seriously lets go of the interior, which runs at 26% from afar in his career. Like any “ average person », he imagined himself staying in Phoenix…
If the 25-year-old has since wanted to play the card of distance from summer events, he nonetheless keeps the memory of “ remarkable moments » of his five seasons in Arizona.
“ I learned to win, I took that with me too. I know how difficult it is to establish a tradition and bring players to the same level. Those are the kinds of things I take with me to pass on to the younger guys, so they know how hard it is to play in this league every day. It’s not what you did yesterday that matters, but what you can do today », he says.
Provided he is in a favorable situation to develop, which seems to be his case in Portland where he continues to show his enthusiasm. The Suns may have given up on him, but at least they sent him to a franchise where he will have an important role.
Deandre Ayton is very happy with his situation in Portland
“ I feel like they were able to send me where they wanted, they sent me where I can be appreciated and valued, things that I wanted in my career. They didn’t send me anywhere. They sent me to where there are guys my age, a learning process and starting something new. I have a feeling it could have been worse. I was really lucky to be part of a franchise that really appreciates me », continues Deandre Ayton.
While he had a complicated reunion with his former team a few days ago, the pivot heard “ play hard every game ” And ” represent as best as possible » his new club this season. While trying to silence certain people “.
| Deandre Ayton | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | PHX | 71 | 31 | 58.5 | 0.0 | 74.6 | 3.1 | 7.1 | 10.3 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 16.3 |
| 2019-20 | PHX | 38 | 33 | 54.6 | 23.1 | 75.3 | 3.9 | 7.6 | 11.5 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 18.2 |
| 2020-21 | PHX | 69 | 31 | 62.6 | 20.0 | 76.9 | 3.3 | 7.2 | 10.5 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 14.5 |
| 2021-22 | PHX | 58 | 30 | 63.4 | 36.8 | 74.6 | 2.6 | 7.7 | 10.2 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 17.2 |
| 2022-23 | PHX | 67 | 30 | 58.9 | 29.2 | 76.0 | 2.6 | 7.4 | 10.0 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 18.0 |
| Total | 303 | 31 | 59.7 | 26.3 | 75.5 | 3.0 | 7.4 | 10.4 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 16.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
