Suns C Ayton ‘antsy’ to return from his ban
Practice was over Sunday afternoon, but Deandre Ayton wanted one more assist from Devin Booker.
So Ayton tossed the ball up to Booker, who was standing on the stairs heading out of the practice area at Talking Stick Resort Arena, and asked him to throw the ball down to him on the court.
After a couple of tries, Booker put a two-handed spin on the throw, Ayton grabbed it on the hard bounce off the floor and dunked two-handed — backward.
“I think he’s antsy right now,” Booker said. “Very antsy, which I understand. Being around the game for a while and not being able to compete, I’ve dealt with it very lately with injuries. I know the feeling.”
Ayton is 10 games into his 25-game suspension for violating the NBA/NBPA anti-drug program for testing positive for a diuretic. The Suns are 7-5 following a loss to the Boston Celtics (11-2), 99-85, on Monday in the finale of their sixgame homestand.
“I think he’s taking it all in,” Booker said. “He’s seeing what’s working for us. He’s seeing us compete and think it’s going to be a domino effect and something that’s going to wear off on him when he comes back.”
Suns coach Monty Williams didn’t know if an arbitration had been filed for Ayton to reduce the suspension. The Suns are pressing forward as if Ayton won’t return until Dec. 17 when they face the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.
“You have to, I have to,” Williams said. “I have to plan as if he’s going to be out 25 games. When he does come back, it’ll be like signing a free agent. A highlevel free agent. My line of thinking is, 25 games, we’ll learn and we’ll get a really good player when he comes back.”
Ayton posted a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds to go along with four blocks in his only game this season as the Suns won by 29 over Sacramento in the opener. He’s been able to practice and travel with the team, but Ayton can’t be in the arena two hours before games.
Williams said Ayton has been in the weight room “daily” and added “a few pounds” of muscle. Ayton’s listed at 6foot-11, 250 pounds in the Suns’ latest game notes.
“I know it’s muscle cause he’s playing 4-on-4, 5-on-5,” said Williams about
Ayton, who has participated in pick-up games after practice with teammates and assistant coaches. “So it’s not like he’s just putting on calories. So he looks really good. His legs are fresh. He’s in practice with us and he’s running script.”
And dunking.
“He’s jumping over the rim dunking the ball because he’s so anxious,” Williams said. “I think it’s a really good time for him to grow not just as a basketball player, but to reflect on a number of things and it’s a great time for us to put our arms around him and show him that we are a family.”
Williams said the team has been working on Ayton’s shot, particularly from 3, as the plan going into the season was for him to shoot them in games. Ayton didn’t attempt one in the opener, but he worked on his 3-point shot in the offseason and has attempted them in practices and the pick-up games.
“We want him to be able to shoot 3s one day so that would require him to get a little bit more arc on his shot,” Williams said as he added that assistant coach Mark Bryant has been working with Ayton on arc.
“It’s not something you want to drastically push. I think anytime you’re messing with someone’s shot, it’s small corrections like learning how to ride a bike type thing.”
Williams sees this upcoming summer being a time for him to grow in that area even more. For now, Williams wants Ayton to gain knowledge and more from the man who replaced him in the starting lineup — Aron Baynes.
“That’s a great teacher,” Williams said. “Great screener. Communicates on defense. All the stuff we wanted (Ayton) to get better at, he’s had a chance to sit and watch it.”