Deandre Ayton is surprisingly consistent

[MrGoat]

These are pretty much the same numbers he's always put up. He's actually currently on pace to not average a double double for the first time in his career. He made it to the Finals with Luka's son. Let's see what he can do with Luka Sr.

[bkkrh]

He’s good for 16/10 no matter where he is or who he’s playing with.

Read on Twitter

In a way it´s kinda funny how for pretty much every other position multiple current players put up insane stats, but outside of Joker/Embiid "impressive" numbers for modern Centers look like a player like Ewing/Olajuwon/Mourning/Shaq/Robinson and son on is having a few underwhelming nights in a row^^.

Think the last few seasons Ayton was not as bad as some people said he was, but let´s not go in the exact opposite direction now. He is pretty much the exact same player that he always was. He is definitely a good value player on a 8 Million contract and think he can be the 4th best player on a contender but that´s it.

[SkyBill40]

Ayton 2021 NBA Finals
14.8 points
12.0 rebounds
1.5 blocks
1.5 steals
.531 field
.909 frees

The thing about statistics alone is that they don't tell the entire story. Ayton was lackadaisical and quit on the team during that series. It's part of the reason we lost.

Quit defensively AND offensively, or just defensively?

Kind of both, but more so on the defensive end. It's very likely his lack of motor is what led to him not getting a max deal. Monty Williams verbally berated him on the sideline in a playoff series the next year and pulled him out of the game after 17 minutes because of his actions (or lack thereof). He got sent to POR and they basically waived him. What does that tell you?

Empty stats are empty, man.

[Malapropism]

His impact starts and ends with his box score.

[The Servant]

I read here that he's a bum. What happened?

He is still a bum. What has changed?

[DusterBuster]

Putting up solid numbers has never really been his issue.

Yep. He was a former #1 overall pick with the skills to do SO much better, but all you'll ever get out of him is "solid".

For a guy with his hype and his draft positioning, it should be a "surprise" when he's better than solid. But that's the Ayton experience.

[Exp0sed]

Putting up solid numbers has never really been his issue.

He's playing well tho, regardless of the numbers and he's clearly engaged

He went from making max money to very little money. He's been pretty durable, no major injuries and is still relatively young, being engaged and playing well can earn him alot of money

Did u catch his reaction to AR's buzzer beater? He'll stay consistent this season and perhaps will return to his old ways in the future but...only after he gets another bag

Sent from my SM-A055F using RealGM mobile app

[ryguy613]

Putting up solid numbers has never really been his issue.

honestly I havent seen a problem... with the obvious qualifier that its still insanely early in the season. hes not a great lob threat but he actually can create his own shot, and has a decent touch with the short jumpers. hes a good screen setter, from what ive seen so far. hes a decent rebounder, which was a desperate need for this team coming off last season. hes not a great defender. that seems to be his biggest issue. Hes not an elite center but hes definitely good enough to be a starter with fairly heavy minutes on a good team

[Goon]

I understand the empty stats argument, but he was a starter on a team that made the finals. And the injury riddled Lakers are 3-2 with him playing big minutes. Maybe he's not just an empty stats player, even if not spectacular. An average center that does some things good but lets people down because of bigger expectations, because it's impossible to shake the feeling that he could do a lot more with a better motor.

[SkyBill40]

I understand the empty stats argument, but he was a starter on a team that made the finals. And the injury riddled Lakers are 3-2 with him playing big minutes. Maybe he's not just an empty stats player, even if not spectacular. An average center that does some things good but lets people down because of bigger expectations, because it's impossible to shake the feeling that he could do a lot more with a better motor.

If we're being honest here, HE spoke that expectations stuff into existence. I mean, giving yourself the name of "DominAyton" and then not living up to any of it, just being there to log minutes so you can get paid, isn't it. And when he's been questioned on his motor, he doubles down on nonsense talk. He's merely average and he seems content in that fact and knowing that because he's young and has size, he'll pretty much be guaranteed a seat at someone's table.

Definitely one of the weakest first overall picks ever. But Robert Sarver just HAD to have him. Even when Doncic was right there and we had his national team coach as the head coach at the time. I'll never understand that draft position for Ayton and he'll never live up to it.

[Shock Defeat]

Ayton is the definition of a "mid" center. He's not a scrub, but he's not good either. Just...there.

[levon]

Ayton is the definition of a "mid" center. He's not a scrub, but he's not good either. Just...there.

So far in 5 games he's outplayed Sabonis, and Gobert twice. Does that make those guys scrubs?

He's doing some impressive work with Luka and Austin to set them up in the PnR. Screening and rescreening, rolling at the right time into the pocket, and then playing in the short roll. Luka and Austin's scoring wouldn't happen without Ayton. You guys aren't watching the games though so I'm not surprised.

[JellosJigglin]

Ayton is the definition of a "mid" center. He's not a scrub, but he's not good either. Just...there.

Did you watch Jaxson Hayes as the starting center for the Lakers last season?

Ayton is everything I expected. A massive upgrade for the Lakers. They win that series against Minny if they had Ayton at center instead of being forced to bench Hayes and play small. They made Gobert look like the second coming of Wilt last postseason. Already beat Minny twice this season.

[tamaraw08]

I understand the empty stats argument, but he was a starter on a team that made the finals. And the injury riddled Lakers are 3-2 with him playing big minutes. Maybe he's not just an empty stats player, even if not spectacular. An average center that does some things good but lets people down because of bigger expectations, because it's impossible to shake the feeling that he could do a lot more with a better motor.

Definitely one of the weakest first overall picks ever. But Robert Sarver just HAD to have him. Even when Doncic was right there and we had his national team coach as the head coach at the time. I'll never understand that draft position for Ayton and he'll never live up to it.

Worst than Anthony Bennet, Olowakandi, Bargnani, Markell Fultz, Oden, Kwame Brown?

[Ball so hard]

Many ridiculed the signing. Many made it seem as though he’s on the same level as Hayes. I remember saying that going from Hayes to Ayton is in and of itself a major upgrade.

[Lalouie]

ayton has always had consistent numbers

with consistently zero affect on the W's

and consistently had a bag of loose marbles upstairs that consistently puts a 5' ceiling on his performance

isn't now a pretty good time for him to raise his head above his water level so'z he can see what's going on?

i dunno,,has he always had the same babysitter too

[AussieBuck]

Ayton 2021 NBA Finals
14.8 points
12.0 rebounds
1.5 blocks
1.5 steals
.531 field
.909 frees

The thing about statistics alone is that they don't tell the entire story. Ayton was lackadaisical and quit on the team during that series. It's part of the reason we lost.

Giannis broke that young man.

[Ball so hard]

I understand the empty stats argument, but he was a starter on a team that made the finals. And the injury riddled Lakers are 3-2 with him playing big minutes. Maybe he's not just an empty stats player, even if not spectacular. An average center that does some things good but lets people down because of bigger expectations, because it's impossible to shake the feeling that he could do a lot more with a better motor.

If we're being honest here, HE spoke that expectations stuff into existence. I mean, giving yourself the name of "DominAyton" and then not living up to any of it, just being there to log minutes so you can get paid, isn't it. And when he's been questioned on his motor, he doubles down on nonsense talk. He's merely average and he seems content in that fact and knowing that because he's young and has size, he'll pretty much be guaranteed a seat at someone's table.

Definitely one of the weakest first overall picks ever. But Robert Sarver just HAD to have him. Even when Doncic was right there and we had his national team coach as the head coach at the time. I'll never understand that draft position for Ayton and he'll never live up to it.

You’re generally a good poster, but this is a ridiculous take. I expect post like this from a ballboy.

[Lockdown504090]

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/defense-dash-lt6?dir=D&sort=FGA_LT_06

search ayton..... guys hooping, just not how u want.

[zimpy27]

I think he will play well with LeBron too. He seems to do well from more predictable moves. An issue with Luka can be the unpredictability takes a longer time to learn. Ayton will eventually sync.