Suns’ Ayton becoming a leader for the defense
FLAGSTAFF — Deandre Ayton isn’t as loud as Tyson Chandler. Apparently, no one on the team is. “T.C.’s the loudest on the court,” point guard Shaquille Harrison said.
The Suns rookie has been far from quiet, though.
Ayton has been yelling instructions, being vocal and taking pride in defending the paint in his first NBA training camp this week at Northern Arizona.
“Open it up, open up!” Ayton barked while defending former NBA player and Suns assistant Corliss Williamson during Wednesday morning’s practice.
“White! White! White!” he blared at Elie Okobo.
Not even fatigue has stopped the
No. 1 overall pick from shouting with that deep, booming voice.
“Down low, you really have to be a general,” Ayton said. “I’m my point guard and wing’s eyes. I’ve got to be a vocal leader even when I’m tired.”
Chandler has pressed upon Ayton to own the back end of the defense — and when things break down, protect the rim with force and intensity.
“He has to speak and he has to command respect down there,” Chandler said. “In this league, guys got to know that’s what you’re doing. They’ve got to hear your voice and respect your voice and know that you got their back down there. As big guys, we’re the last line of defense. You’re basically the orchestrator of the whole thing. I’m trying to help right now find his voice.”
And it’s not just talking. It’s about communicating the right things to help the defense.
So Ayton can’t just yell for the sake of yelling.
“You have to understand the concept,” Suns first-year coach Igor Kokoskov said. “You have to understand the situation to process and then be vocal.”
Ayton wasn’t known as an elite defender in college. He certainly didn’t impress Joel Embiid with his defensive play.
That’s what led to the Philadelphia 76ers All-Star’s critical tweet on draft night when Chauncey Billups compared Ayton to him on ESPN.
Ayton hasn’t played an NBA game to show he’s a better defender than Embiid or anyone else for that matter, but he is working to become better at defense — and a big part of that is being vocal.
"That’s what I’m learning right now,” he said. “That’s what I’ve really added to my game. I’m getting better at it. When I’m tired, I’m still communicating and trying to give the best directions out there possible.”
Not as loud as Chandler, yet, but you can hear him.
“It’s good he’s got Tyson Chandler here to show him the ropes because Tyson is one of the loudest guys out there,” Harrison said. “It’s great for him to come under T.C.’s wing and he’s been displaying it in training camp so far.”
Ayton’s also learning the principal of verticality, when to jump to block shots and that it’s OK to put his hands on the screener on a pick-and-roll.
“You can push the guy now,” said the one-and-done Arizona All-American. “You can push the screener, redirect him to help your point guard and get over or under the screen.”
Ayton switched his share of pickand-rolls in college so that hasn’t been a big adjustment.
He’s also getting more comfortable with closing out on wings.
“I’m not trying to be a liability on the court,” Ayton said.
Ayton seems to be having fun so far in his first NBA training camp.
He likes Flagstaff.
“I love it because said.
Maybe the people here can hear him shouting instructions, too.
Ayton loved the competitive contact practice Tuesday night.
“It was so fun,” he said. “… Just being physical and being vocal. It’s like, the competitiveness in practice is so crazy. It’s no hard feelings. People are giving hard fouls, falling and hurting and having stuff sent to the stands, but everybody is getting better. You’re going to have to love it because it’s contagious.”
The 7-footer was nearly left speechless Wednesday when told about how Hall of Famer and former Sun Shaquille O’Neal had given him props.
“You’re in my head now,” Ayton said. “You need to tell me that after this, so I can write it down and keep it in my room. That’s motivation right there to keep me going. That’s even more fire to the fuel. So it’s going to be a fun year.”
It’ll be even more fun for Phoenix if Ayton and Devin Booker start living up to that Shaq-Kobe 2.0 talk he started before the draft.
Ayton’s even fine with some responsibilities that come with being a rookie. it’s quiet,” Ayton
“We’ve got to go to everybody’s room to pick up laundry,” he said with a huge smile.
At least there are five rookies to share the duty.
Ayton’s offense is probably ahead of his defense. He’s very athletic, can score in multiple ways and runs the floor extremely well, but Kokoskov has harped on him to play defense — and will continue to do so.
“He’s got to be our defensive coordinator,” Kokoskov said. “That’s his job description. I told him last night, we have to sacrifice. Camp is a big sacrifice. Putting in five hours, six hours (Tuesday), but then you start dominating. It’s a beautiful feeling in any profession.”
Being a vocal leader is a big part of Ayton’s job description.
Not as loud as Chandler, but it sounds like Ayton’s getting there.