With less than 24 hours into the NBA Free Agency, we’re starting to see teams make moves, and one beneficiary so far is former Wildcat Deandre Ayton.
It’s been a busy 24 hours in the NBA! With the start of the NBA Free Agency, and with numerous moves already having been made, one beneficiary of the free agency moves so far is former Wildcat, Deandre Ayton!
So how much did Ayton benefit? Well, let’s analyze his rookie season first. For those who may have been living under a rock the last year, Ayton had one heck of a rookie season, averaging 16.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Arizona Wildcats
However, the rookie did that on a team that finished 19-63 and despite the great season, he finished in third place in the Rookie of the Year voting. While he hasn’t necessarily received the credit he deserves, he still had one heck of a dominant season.
So just how dominant was Ayton? Well, let’s put it this way, as one fan noted on social media, he is just one of seven rookies to average 16 and 10 while shooting higher than 57 percent from the field. He was so good this past season, he joined the elite company of David Robinson, Karl Anthony-Towns, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry Lucas and Tim Duncan.
What makes his rookie season even more impressive, is that he did that on a team that had not one, “true point guard”. As that same fan noted, all those other players aforementioned had better point guards.
Robinson had Rod Strickland his rookie year, who averaged 14.2 points and 8.0 assists per game, Towns had Ricky Rubio (Ayton’s soon-to-be teammate) who averaged 10.1 points and 8.7 assists per game, and Mourning had Muggsy Bogues who averaged 10.0 points and 8.8 assists per game.
Moreover, Shaq had Scott Skiles who averaged 15.4 points and 9.4 assists per game, Lucas had Oscar Robertson who averaged 31.4 points and 11.0 assists per game, and lastly Duncan had Avery Johnson who averaged 10.2 points and 7.9 assists per game.
By comparison, Ayton had two rookie point guards in De’Anthony Melton and Elie Okobo who respectfully averaged 5.0 points and 3.2 assists, and 5.7 points and 2.4 assists per game.
That’s no disrespect to Melton or Okobo, but imagine what production Ayton could have had if he played with better point guards!
Well, as we noted early, his soon-to-be teammate is Ricky Rubio is on his way to Phoenix, as part of one of the blockbuster free agency signings yesterday. Rubio is a solid, veteran point guard who has averaged 11.0 points and 7.7 assists per game in his career so far.
While he’s certainly not dominant, Rubio is far better than what the Phoenix Suns have had in quite some time. And one thing to like about this addition is that Rubio is not a score-first point guard, and will likely allow Ayton to develop and more importantly get the ball more!
As former Arizona head coach Lute Olson used to say, the biggest jump a player can make is from his freshman to sophomore season. Well, perhaps that same logic can be applied to Ayton who is soon entering his second year in the NBA?
All the big man needs is more touches and more opportunities. Should that happen with Rubio, just watch as to how much more dominant Ayton can become in year two!
For those needing a reminder at how special this young man is, take a look for yourself!
At Zona Zealots, we’re happy for Deandre and hope he can continue his dominance and show everyone the reason why he was drafted No. 1 overall! As always, Bear Down, Arizona!