Deandre Ayton facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids
Deandre Ayton
No. 2 – Portland Trail Blazers
Ayton with The Bahamas in 2023
Center
Personal information
Born	(1998-07-23) July 23, 1998 (age 26) Nassau, Bahamas
High school	Balboa City School (San Diego, California) Hillcrest Prep Academy (Phoenix, Arizona)
Listed height	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight	252 lb (114 kg)
Career information
College	Arizona (2017–2018)
NBA Draft	2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Pro career	2018–present
League	NBA
Career history
2018–2023	Phoenix Suns
2023–present	Portland Trail Blazers

Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Rookie First Team (2019) Consensus first-team All-American (2018) Karl Malone Award (2018) Pac-12 Player of the Year (2018) First-team All-Pac-12 (2018) Pac-12 Freshman of the Year (2018) Pac-12 tournament MOP (2018) McDonald's All-American (2017)

Deandre Ayton (born July 23, 1998) is a professional basketball player from The Bahamas. He plays as a center for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Before joining the NBA, Deandre was a top high school player. He was considered one of the best young talents in the country. He played one year of college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats. There, he was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year.

In 2018, the Phoenix Suns chose Ayton as the very first player in the 2018 NBA draft. He was later named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2019. In 2021, he helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993.

Early Life and Basketball Start

Deandre Ayton was born in Nassau, Bahamas. His father is from Nigeria, and his mother has Jamaican and Bahamian family.

He started playing basketball when he was in fourth grade. By the time he was 12 years old, he was already 6 feet 5 inches tall! To play high school basketball, Ayton moved from The Bahamas to San Diego, California.

High School Basketball Journey

Ayton first went to Balboa School in California. He played on the varsity basketball team for two years. In his second year (2014–15), he was amazing. He averaged 21 points, 16 rebounds, and almost 7 blocks per game. He had a "double-double" (getting at least 10 in two stats like points and rebounds) in 21 out of 22 games.

In the summer, he played for a team called Supreme Court AAU. He continued to show his skills, averaging 16.5 points and 13.5 rebounds.

Moving to Hillcrest Prep

For his junior year (2015–16), Ayton moved to Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. He played alongside another future NBA star, Marvin Bagley III. During this year, Ayton averaged 29.2 points, 16.7 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game.

In his senior year (2016–17), Ayton led Hillcrest to a great 33–6 record. He averaged 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks. He also won the Finals MVP and season MVP at the Grind Session World Championship.

Becoming a Top Recruit

Experts like Scout.com, Rivals.com, and ESPN all thought Ayton was one of the best high school players in 2017. He was a "five-star recruit," meaning he was considered one of the very top players. He was ranked as the No. 1 center in his class.

Ayton chose between three major college teams: Arizona, Kansas, and Kentucky. On September 6, 2016, he decided to play for the Arizona Wildcats.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Deandre Ayton C	Phoenix, Arizona	Hillcrest Prep Academy (AZ)	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	Sep 6, 2016
Deandre Ayton C	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 97
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 5 Rivals: 3 247Sports: 4 ESPN: 3
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources:

College Career at Arizona

Ayton in 2017

Deandre Ayton played his first game for the University of Arizona on November 10, 2017. He scored 19 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and blocked 3 shots. This was a great start for a freshman!

He had many impressive games, including 29 points and 18 rebounds against Alabama. He also set a season-high with 19 rebounds against Arizona State. Ayton was known for getting many "double-doubles" (at least 10 points and 10 rebounds) and 20-point games.

During his time at Arizona, there were some questions about his eligibility. Despite these concerns, Ayton continued to play and perform well.

Awards and Leaving College Early

On March 3, 2018, after a big win, Ayton announced he would enter the 2018 NBA draft. He was expected to be one of the top players chosen.

He had a career-high 32 points against UCLA and tied it the next day in the Pac-12 Championship game, which Arizona won. Ayton was named the Pac-12 Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

At the end of the season, Ayton won many awards. He was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. He also received the Karl Malone Award, given to the best power forward in college basketball.

After Arizona's loss in the NCAA tournament, Ayton decided to leave college early. He declared for the NBA draft, where he was expected to be a top pick.

Professional Career

Phoenix Suns (2018–2023)

First Season: All-Rookie Honors

On June 21, 2018, the Phoenix Suns chose Deandre Ayton as the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft. This was the first time the Suns had the No. 1 pick in their history.

Ayton played well in the NBA Summer League, averaging 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. He signed his first NBA contract soon after.

In his first NBA game on October 17, 2018, Ayton had 18 points and 10 rebounds. He was the first player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1969 to have such a great debut. He continued to play well, setting a career-high of 33 points in December.

Ayton was chosen for the World Team in the Rising Stars Challenge during the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend. He broke a Suns rookie record for most "double-doubles." At the end of the season, he was named to the 2019 All-Rookie First Team.

Second Season: Improving as a Sophomore

At the start of the 2019–20 season, Ayton was suspended for 25 games. He returned in December, showing his skills with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

On January 16, 2020, Ayton had an amazing game. He scored 26 points and grabbed a career-high 21 rebounds against the New York Knicks. He was the first Suns player since Amar'e Stoudemire to have a "20/20" game (20+ points and 20+ rebounds).

He continued to improve, reaching 1,000 rebounds faster than any other Suns player. He also helped the Suns win all eight of their games in the 2020 NBA Bubble, ending the season on a high note.

First Playoff Appearance and NBA Finals

In the 2020–21 season, Ayton focused more on defense. On January 20, 2021, he had 26 points, 17 rebounds, and a career-high 5 blocks. This helped the Suns make the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

Ayton made his NBA playoff debut on May 23, scoring 21 points and grabbing 16 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers. In the Western Conference Finals, he made a famous "alley-oop dunk" at the buzzer to win a game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

He helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993. In Game 1 of the Finals, Ayton had 22 points and 19 rebounds. Although the Suns took a 2–0 lead, they eventually lost the series in six games.

Franchise Record in Wins

The 2021–22 season was a record-breaking one for the Suns. On March 23, 2022, Ayton scored a career-high 35 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. The Suns finished with the best record in the league at 64 wins and 18 losses.

In the playoffs, Ayton continued to perform well. He scored a playoff career-high 28 points and 17 rebounds against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Suns won their first two games in the Western Conference Semifinals but lost the series in seven games.

Contract Extension

Before the 2022–23 season, Ayton signed a large contract with the Suns. On November 25, he scored 28 points and 12 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons. In the next game, he had 29 points and a season-high 21 rebounds.

Ayton was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career. He continued to have strong games, including a season-high 31 points in December and tying his career-high of 35 points in February.

Portland Trail Blazers (2023–present)

On September 27, 2023, Ayton was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of a big three-team trade.

On October 30, Ayton grabbed a career-high 23 rebounds in a win against the Toronto Raptors. He continued to have strong performances, including 30 points and 19 rebounds in March 2024. On April 5, he scored a season-high 34 points, showing his impact on his new team.

Player Profile

Deandre Ayton is known for being a very strong and athletic center. He stands 7 feet tall and weighs around 250 pounds. His arm span (wingspan) is about 7 feet 5 inches, and he can jump very high.

He has been compared to famous basketball players like Hakeem Olajuwon because of his quick footwork. Some experts have also compared him to David Robinson and Anthony Davis.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2018–19	Phoenix	71	70	30.7	.585	.000	.746	10.3	1.8	.9	.9	16.3
2019–20	Phoenix	38	32	32.5	.546	.331	.753	11.5	1.9	.7	1.5	18.2
2020–21	Phoenix	69	69	30.6	.626	.200	.769	10.5	1.4	.6	1.2	14.4
2021–22	Phoenix	58	58	29.5	.634	.368	.746	10.2	1.4	.7	.7	17.2
2022–23	Phoenix	67	67	30.4	.589	.292	.760	10.0	1.7	.6	.8	18.0
2023–24	Portland	55	55	32.4	.570	.100	.823	11.1	1.6	1.0	.8	16.7
Career		358	351	30.9	.592	.244	.761	10.5	1.6	.7	1.0	16.7

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2021	Phoenix	22	22	36.4	.658	—	.736	11.8	1.1	.8	1.1	15.8
2022	Phoenix	13	13	30.5	.640	.500	.636	8.9	1.7	.4	.8	17.9
2023	Phoenix	10	10	31.9	.550	—	.522	9.7	1.0	.6	.7	13.4
Career		45	45	33.7	.629	.500	.661	10.5	1.3	.6	.9	15.9

College

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2017–18	Arizona	35	35	33.5	.612	.343	.733	11.6	1.6	.6	1.9	20.1

Awards and Achievements

Deandre Ayton has earned many awards throughout his basketball career:

NBA

NBA All-Rookie First Team (2019)
Rising Stars Challenge participant (2019)

College

Karl Malone Award (2018)
Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2018)
Pac-12 Player of the Year (2018)
Pac-12 Freshman Player of the Year (2018)
First-team All-Pac-12 (2018)
First-team All-American (2018)

High School

McDonald's All-American (2017)
All-USA Boys Basketball First Team (2017)
Naismith High School Boys All-America first team (2017)

National Team Career

Ayton plays for The Bahamas national basketball team. In 2016, he led a tournament in rebounds per game. He averaged 16 points and 3.5 blocks per game at just 18 years old.

In 2023, he joined the Bahamas team again for the 2024 Olympics Pre-Qualifying Tournament.

Personal Life

Deandre Ayton cares about his home country. After Hurricane Dorian hit The Bahamas in 2019, he donated $100,000 to help people. He also organized a drive to collect more supplies and donations.

On March 6, 2021, Deandre became a father when his son, Deandre Ayton Jr., was born.

Images for kids

Ayton with The Bahamas national team
Ayton playing in 2017