On day of firsts, Deandre Ayton battles excitement and double-teams in Suns debut

LAS VEGAS — Friday night was an evening of firsts for Deandre Ayton.

It was the first time he stepped foot on a Las Vegas court in a uniform other than the Wildcats’ No. 13, but instead No. 22 for the Suns. It was the first time he ditched the swoosh and laced up the Pumas as his signature shoe, a black and white pair of Clydes.

But among all the firsts, the most important was his debut as a Phoenix Sun, the franchise’s first ever No. 1 NBA Draft selection. The Suns won their first game in NBA Summer League with Ayton by holding off the Dallas Mavericks 92-85.

“I could feel the energy around me,” Ayton said.

Dallas played without its No. 5 overall pick and 19-year-old Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic because his former club, Real Madrid, is still working on a buyout which has kept him out of live practices and now summer league.

Ayton started alongside 7-foot stretch forward Dragan Bender in the frontcourt as Josh Jackson, Davon Reed and Shaquille Harrison filled out the starting lineup.

Here’s another first: Ayton played center rather than power forward like he did at UA, and Bender is a more versatile big man than Dusan Ristic.

In the first quarter, Harrison welcomed Ayton to the association with a fast break alley-oop dunk, Ayton’s first points as a Phoenix Sun. After setting the tone and previewing what many Phoenix Suns fans hope to see as a common occurrence, the Mavericks’ frontcourt in Johnathan Motley and Jalen Jones contained Ayton and double-teamed him essentially every time he touched the ball in the post.

“I told coach, like, they’re double-teaming in the league? And everyone started laughing. Coach just said it was out of respect,” Ayton said.

Ayton was quiet in the first half with four points and three rebounds, and was the only Phoenix starter to have a negative plus-minus. One Phoenix Suns fan gripping a 10-ounce beer cup could be heard yelling, “Come on guys, you have the No. 1 draft pick!”

It even got to the point where the fan wished for first-year head coach Igor Kokoskov to insert Suns center Alex Len, except Len and the Suns parted ways a week ago once the free agency period started on July 1.

Deandre Ayton on his performance tonight: “I can do better, but overall I think I did alright.” #NBASummer pic.twitter.com/qHENMmAHnQ

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) July 7, 2018

Ayton gained some traction in the fourth quarter, catching another alley-oop, and finished the game with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting and eight rebounds in 22 minutes.

Ayton didn’t have a blow-the-roof-off type of performance, but the 19-year-old put one game under his belt, which figures to be one of many in a lengthy career as the new face of the franchise.

He even admitted some nerves.

“I felt like a rookie," Ayton said. "It was more like excitement. ... I was just really excited to get on the floor and try to make a highlight play."

Although the Suns won handedly, the young core and new head coach went through growing pains, which is bound to happen.

“It’s the first summer league game for all of us,” Kokoskov said. “We have a lot of film to watch tomorrow.”

UA fans may be used to seeing the 7-foot-1, 260-pound giant make grown men resemble children, but it’s a whole new ball game for the rookie.

“‘I can do better, but overall I think I did alright,” Ayton said.

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As for what he can improve: "Most definitely being vocal. We were fatigued in the third quarter, it got pretty quiet. I just have to have the mindset to keep talking to everybody, keep the energy going."

Ayton and the Suns return to action Saturday against Marvin Bagley and the Sacramento Kings at 4:30 p.m., which will be televised on ESPN.

Alkins makes the most of ‘great opportunity’

Rawle Alkins was the first former Arizona Wildcat to begin NBA Summer League play on Friday, and although the Brooklyn native wasn’t in the starting lineup, he made the most out of his pro debut in a 90-77 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Alkins didn’t log any minutes in the first half and didn’t check in until the seven-minute mark in the third quarter.

Matched up against former Kansas Jayhawk Cheick Diallo, Alkins finished the game with 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting and 6 rebounds in 14 minutes, 57 seconds.

“It’s a fast-paced game and it kinda all hit me at once,” Alkins said. “You play so fast you don’t realize how much stuff you’re doing at once. It was a great opportunity.”

Rawle Alkins put on a show in the second half for the Toronto Raptors. #NBASummerLeague pic.twitter.com/EJJBFWmO3j

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) July 6, 2018

Alkins ignited the Raptors on a run late in the fourth quarter after a breakaway reverse dunk that looked similar to the dunk he had against Oregon State at home last season. But the Raptors still trailed by 19 with just over four minutes to play.

Alkins finished with zero turnovers and was the only Raptor to have a positive plus-minus (+14).

Alkins said after the game that going undrafted last month was “a humbling experience.”

“I’m always motivated. I guess you could say it’s a humbling experience, I didn’t really expect (to go undrafted),” Alkins said. “But it happened. On to the next step.”

Alkins ultimately signed a training camp deal with the Raptors, which can be worth up to $50,000.

“With the Raptors, I want to thank them for giving me an opportunity to compete in the summer league,” he said. “I’m just going to try to showcase my best and the rest is going to be history.”

Alkins mentioned he still talks with former Wildcat and teammate Allonzo Trier on a daily basis.

The Raptors will take a day off, but return Sunday against the Minnesota Timberwolves at noon, which will be aired on NBA TV.

Rim shots

• Kadeem Allen scored six points on 3-of-5 shooting while also dishing three assists in 14 minutes for the Boston Celtics. Allen appeared in 18 games and made one start for the Celtics last year, spending most of the season as a primary contributor for the G League affiliate Main Red Claws.
• Chance Comanche did not play in the Orlando Magic’s Vegas opener.
• Kobi Simmons (Grizzlies) and Allonzo Trier (Knicks) both will make their 2018 Vegas debut on Saturday.

For the full schedule and updated stats for the six Wildcats competing in NBA Summer League, click here.