LAS VEGAS β The only element missing to the primetime matchup on Day 4 of NBA Summer League was legendary boxing voice Michael Buffer announcing the starting lineups and finishing with his signature punchline: Letβs get ready to rumble.
Deandre Ayton. Mo Bamba. Suns. Magic. No. 1 draft pick versus No. 6. The 7-foot-1 beast from the Bahamas against the longest wing span in NBA combine history at 7-foot-10 and a player the Suns considering drafting.
Former Arizona Wildcat Ayton passed one test on Saturday after he bested No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III and recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds, his first double-double of the NBA Summer League.
But the Magic presented a more difficult challenge Monday night. Beside Bamba in the frontcourt was 6-foot-11 stretch forward and shot blocker Johnathan Isaac, whoβs entering his second season in the NBA.
Ayton relished the chance to prove himself.
βItβs a big chip. I told you Iβm a competitor, thatβs what keeps my blood flowing,β Ayton said after the game. βIf the media makes it a hype and I see it or get a glance at it or hear it, my blood start boiling.β
Deandre Ayton, dunking against Dallas last week, had 17 points and 13 rebounds in Mondayβs win over Orlando in an NBA Summer League game.
Ayton didnβt miss a beat from Saturday and posted another double-double as Phoenix routed the Magic 71-53. Ayton finished with a game-high 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting to go with 13 rebounds.
It was also Aytonβs second game in a row that he wore Nike Kobes instead of Puma, the global brand thatβs breaking back into basketball after signing Ayton, Bagley, Michael Porter Jr. and Zhaire Smith.
After Saturdayβs win over the Kings, Ayton claimed that he has mutually agreed with Puma to hold off on wearing the brandβs shoes to enhance and customize it for a better fit during games.
βI love Puma shoes, but I wear size 18 so weβre working on putting a lot of technology into the shoe. They want me to perform the best way I can,β Ayton said.
Ayton got off to a mild start in the first quarter Monday, with his only field goal coming on an alley-oop from Shaquille Harrison. But he picked up some traction in the second quarter, shooting 2 of 3 to finish the first half with seven points and six rebounds.
While Aytonβs alley-oop created some oohs in the arena, the play that got fans excited was when Magic guard Melvin Frazier picked up a loose ball and had a clear path to the basket on the other end. Ayton was the first Sun down the court and chased him down the same way LeBron James closed on former Wildcat Andre Iguodala in Game 7 of the 2016 finals.
Deandre Ayton is out here HUSTLIN'. pic.twitter.com/5BeHoA6Iy9
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 10, 2018
Unfortunately for Ayton, the officials called him for a blocking foul. The hustle and determination from the No. 1 pick in a game that doesnβt count toward the regular season schedule showed why there was no other option for Phoenix.
"That's a talent. That's a talent at 7-1 or whatever," Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov said. "He blocks the shot, is a rim protector and runs the floor. That's a talent. That's why we have him, that's why we love him."
Bamba finished with four points and five blocks in 22 minutes.
Mondayβs game was more personal for Ayton than anything else. Although Ayton was a higher ranked recruit out of high school, Bamba never lost a one-on-one matchup on the AAU circuit in the four times they played each other.
βHeβs 4-1 now. Through high school, he won every game,β Ayton said. βWhen we were shaking hands, he said, βYou finally got one.β And I said, βYep, finally got one, especially when it matters.'"
Ayton has started to mold into the player everyone grew used to watching at Arizona. Against Bagley and Bamba, Ayton averaged 19 points, 12.5 rebounds and recorded two blocks. Is it the shoes? Itβs possible, but the more he plays, especially against top-10 picks, the more heβs proven himself as the best player in the draft.
βIβm just being more confident and playing my game," Ayton said. "I told coach that Iβm getting better and better every game by attacking the glass and being more vocal and doing a little trash-talking too."
Ayton and the Suns finished NBA Summer League play at 3-0, and will return for tournament play Wednesday.
