Former Arizona Wildcat and current rookie for the Phoenix Suns, Deandre Ayton, just reached 1000 points. This guy is good.
Ayton scores. 61 games into his rookie season, Deandre Ayton has hit the 1000 point club. Drafted as the No.1 pick and regarded as one the best to have played at Arizona, Ayton has more then had a successful rookie year. Even though the Suns are last in the Western Conference and have the second worst overall record in the NBA at 15-52, that hasn’t stopped Ayton from doing what he does best, score buckets!
In the 61 games Ayton has played, he has started in all but one. He didn’t play in six games in January due do a left ankle sprain. But even missing those games and not started in one of them, Ayton set several records in a 120-127 loss to the Trailblazers. He becomes the third quickest player in Phoenix Suns history to score 1000 points and the third former Arizona Wildcat in their rookie season to achieve this milestone.
At Arizona, Ayton set many records and raised the bar for 7-footers. His ability to shoot the ball with a variety of moves on the inside was not seen by many at the college level. Ayton only made 12-25 from three, but when he did it was amazing to witness. Where he did dominate though was on the glass. As a Wildcat, he recorded 24 double doubles and averaged 11.6 rebounds per game.
Arizona Wildcats
He has continued much of his success at the NBA level. Yes, Ayton does have certain things to work on, but as a NBA rookie that is expected. Ayton is averaging 16.6 points per game,10.3 rebounds per game and 1.9 assists per game. Also, he is averaging 59.2% from the field and has averaged a double double the entire season!
Among all rookies, Ayton currently is leading in efficiency with a 23.1 rating, in rebounds and third in points per game. He is in the running for the Rookie of the Year, but that is more then likely will go to Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks because of their winning record and because he leads all rookies in scoring.
The pace Ayton is on right now, he will be setting many more records, not just for the Suns but overall in the NBA. He is one of those players that will continue to get better as each game and goes on. Scary to think that Ayton is only 20 years of age. The sky is the limit for Ayton as he will have a very long and successful career in the NBA.
Our final 'For the Love' feature is the No. 1 pick @DeandreAyton. The former @aplayersprogram All-Everything big man has averaged a double-double the entire season for the @Suns! pic.twitter.com/gXEcPCTYff
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) March 8, 2019
At Zona Zealots, we would like to congratulate Deandre Ayton on eclipsing 1000 points. He makes it look so easy at times, but we know many hours has been put in to achieve the greatest that Ayton has. We miss watching him play at Arizona, but know he will go on and continue to do what he loves best and that’s being the best! Bear Down, Arizona.