Deandre Ayton probably should’ve gone for more than 22 tonight. He was facing the Lakers and their defensively abysmal center rotation, and he was efficient, but he didn’t shoot enough shots. I know it’s tough for a rookie to go out there and demand shots like he’s a 10-year veteran, but you gotta do what you gotta do. If your teammates aren’t giving you the ball and getting out of the way, then you have to take the ball from them and do things yourself.
He ended up 11 for 14, which for a rookie in his 4th career game is frickin’ sick and I’m getting Karl Malone vibes (minus the kiddy diddling) from him right now. Like, how can you stop him from scoring? Yes, this was against the Lakers. We’ve been over this. I don’t care. He already looks like a vet out there.
In fact, if he were from some sub-Saharan African country, I’d be questioning his age right about now. He already has a wizened face and a fully developed body. Rookie Dwight Howard he is not. Just looking at him, I’d guess he was 24 or 25. Maybe older. But he’s not. He’s just 20, he’s just getting started, and I’m just getting started getting hyped.