Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton told Eyewitness News Bahamas that he can feel “the whole world hating” him. The first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft drew some criticism for his performance in the 2023 Western Conference Semifinals against the Denver Nuggets, a series the Suns lost in six games.
Not only did Ayton not play well in the Nuggets series, but he also sat out Game 6 due to a rib contusion he suffered in Game 5. Many Suns fans wanted Ayton to be traded this summer, but Chris Paul was moved instead. Ayton intends to change the narrative around him next season.
“I can feel the whole world hating me in a way,” Ayton said. “I’m the guy a lot of people point at and I see it and feel it, but mainly what I’ve been working on five to six days a week since we’ve lost is just motivating myself to change the narrative of what people think about me.
“No matter how you put it, I feel like I have no fans out there and I can feel it because the whole world is saying it,” Ayton explained. “My goal is over the summer is to change the narrative. Just unlock whatever it is and just completely just focus on me and change the whole thing.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton & Phoenix Suns Updates
Ayton averaged 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists last season while shooting 58.9% from the field and 76.0% from the free-throw line. He recorded 36 double-doubles and helped Phoenix win 45 games in the regular season.
However, Ayton’s level of play dropped in the 2023 playoffs. The center averaged 13.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in 10 games versus the Los Angeles Clippers and Nuggets. Ayton put up 10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in the Nuggets series and didn’t register a positive plus-minus rating in any game.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton & Phoenix Suns Updates
Ayton didn’t have a good relationship with former Suns head coach Monty Williams. Phoenix’s front office believes new head coach Frank Vogel will be able to connect with Ayton better than Williams did and help the Arizona product be more engaged on both ends of the floor on a consistent basis.
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