NEW YORK — Deandre Ayton, the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Wildcats made NBA Draft history together as expected Thursday.
The Suns used their first-ever No. 1 overall pick on UA’s Bahamian freshman, making him the first UA player ever taken first in the NBA Draft.
"It's a great blessing," Ayton said in his Barclays Center media interview. "I worked hard for this and had a lot of confidence because I know I deserved this. ... I just was waiting for my name and when (NBA commissioner Adam Silver) called it, my mind was blank."
However, it was no surprise. Ayton has been rated the top player in his class since he was a freshman in high school, and speculation that Slovenian guard Luka Doncic might instead warrant the No. 1 pick dissipated as the draft approached.
Ayton also said leading up to the draft that he knew he would be the No. 1 pick, and that he was excited to represent the Bahamas, which hadn't had a top pick in the NBA Draft since Portland chose Mychal Thompson in 1978.
Arizona's Deandre Ayton, top right, shares a moment with his mom, Andrea, after the Suns made him the top selection.
But Ayton said he was nervous, with his palms sweaty, as the pick approached.
"I kept asking my mom, 'Do you think I’m going No. 1? Do you think I’m going no. 1?" Ayton said.
Ayton is expected to immediately anchor the Suns, which finished with a league-worst 21-61 record last season. A four-figure crowd of Suns fans showed up at Phoenix's Talking Stick Arena to cheer the selection.
“It means a lot to me because you know the fans out there are amazing — they’re the best fans in the world,” Ayton said on ESPN's broadcast of the draft. “I’m really happy to be a part of the Phoenix Suns now and we can really start a winning legacy with Devin Booker and Josh Jackson and all those other guys. We’re a young team and we’re ready. I’m just happy to be a Phoenix Sun.”
Suns general manager Ryan McDonough called it "a historic day for the Phoenix Suns franchise."
“Deandre is a special player and we are thrilled to welcome him home to Phoenix," McDonough said. "It is extremely rare for a player with his size, length and athleticism to be able to not only finish around the rim but also step away from the basket and make shots.
"At 7-1 and exceptionally strong, he is uniquely gifted with his hand-eye coordination and footwork. In addition, he has strong ties to this area and we can’t wait to see him in a Suns uniform.”
The Suns’ decision not only filled a hole in their roster but also kept Ayton in his adopted home state. Ayton played his final two seasons of high school for Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, where his mother and siblings have settled, and spent last year with the Wildcats.
While the Suns attracted a crowd of about 7,000 fans to Talking Stick Arena for the announcement, Ayton celebrated at the Barclays Center along with his mother and his stepfather, Alvin, and UA coach Sean Miller.
Reaction from Phoenix: Suns fans are ecstatic to have Deandre Ayton. #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/fprbBBbQi0
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) June 21, 2018
Ayton averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds in his one season at Arizona, being named a consensus first-team All-American while also earning the Pac-12 regular-season and tournament MVP honors.
Ayton became the 10th NBA Draft pick taken under Miller at Arizona, and the seventh taken in the first round.
Arizona is also expected to land an 11th pick under Miller in guard Rawle Alkins, who is projected as a second-rounder and could slide into the first round. Guard Allonzo Trier, the Wildcats’ second-leading scorer last season, is a fringe draft prospect who could attract a second-round pick.
