Deandre Ayton’s Underrated Rookie Season
Luka Doncic and Trae Young have been the front-runners to win the Rookie of the Year award. Collin Sexton is even being talked. But nobody is talking about the great rookie campaign of Deandre Ayton. Ayton was the number one pick in the 2018 NBA Draft but nobody is giving him the love he deserves for the season he is producing.
Ayton is averaging 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Ayton came with the expectations of being an immediate impact player in this league and he lived up to the expectations so far, despite the Phoenix Suns having a terrible season. Ayton was the first rookie to put up at least 25 points and 15 rebounds in consecutive games since Tim Duncan in 1998 (https://twitter.com/jkubatko/status/1077202906993041409?s=21).
Let’s run through some of his stats this season. Ayton also leads all rookies in win shares (5.9). He is first in rebounds amongst rookies (10.3) which is also good for 14th in the whole league. He is 10th in field goal percentage (.588) which placed second amongst rookies, 11th in total offensive rebounds (223), 16th in total defensive rebounds (506), 14th in total rebounds (729). His rebounding dominance helped him break the Suns’ franchise record for most rebounds by a rookie (Most Rebounds by a Suns Rookie). Amongst rookies, Ayton is fourth in points per game (16.3). He is seventh in blocks per game from the rookies (0.9). He put up these impressive numbers logging in around 30 mins per game which ranks fourth for rookies. Ayton is one of three rookies to post a 20+ points-10+ rebounds, 3+ blocks game this season. The other two rookies were Sacramento Kings forward, Marvin Bagley and Ray Spalding who is Ayton’s teammate (https://twitter.com/scooperhoops/status/1114596274991456256?s=21).
We should look at Ayton’s underrated season and consider him a spot on the All-NBA Rookie team as he was clearly one of the best rookies.
References:
The Stop and Pop
Basketball Analysis & Media Outlet
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