I still remember sitting in my living room back in June 2018, watching the NBA Draft unfold with that particular mix of anticipation and skepticism that only true basketball fans understand. The Phoenix Suns held that precious first overall pick, and honestly, most of us following the league closely had a pretty good idea who they'd select. But what fascinated me more than the selection itself was wondering how this young player would develop - would they become a franchise cornerstone or just another "what if" story?
The answer came swiftly when Commissioner Adam Silver announced Deandre Ayton's name. Standing at 7 feet tall from the University of Arizona, Ayton represented exactly what the Suns needed - a dominant big man who could potentially anchor both their offense and defense for years to come. I've always had a soft spot for traditional centers in this modern positionless basketball era, so I found myself genuinely excited about his selection despite some analysts questioning whether Luka Dončić should have been the pick instead. Looking back now with the benefit of hindsight, it's fascinating to see how all three top picks from that draft - Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, and Dončić - have taken such dramatically different career paths.
Ayton's rookie season showed flashes of brilliance - he averaged 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds while shooting 58.5% from the field, numbers that immediately placed him among the more productive rookie big men in recent memory. But what struck me most watching those early Suns games was how the team struggled to build around him despite his individual production. They finished his rookie year with just 19 wins, which frankly was disappointing even for a rebuilding team. This brings me to that interesting quote from the Suns organization during Ayton's second season: "So I asked the team to sacrifice and let's do our job." This statement, made by then-coach Monty Williams, perfectly captured the cultural shift happening in Phoenix. They were no longer just collecting talent - they were building something purposeful, and Ayton needed to buy into a specific role rather than just putting up empty statistics.
The real transformation came during the 2020-21 season when the Suns made their incredible run to the NBA Finals. Ayton's playoff performance was nothing short of remarkable - he averaged 15.8 points and 11.8 rebounds while playing elite defense against some of the league's best big men. I remember watching him completely neutralize MVP Nikola Jokić in their second-round sweep of Denver and thinking, "This is why they drafted him first overall." His ability to switch onto guards while protecting the rim became invaluable in today's NBA. The financial implications of being a first overall pick eventually caught up with him though - after some contract disputes, the Suns surprisingly matched Indiana's 4-year, $133 million offer sheet in 2022, making him one of the highest-paid centers in the league.
Now, as I look at where Ayton stands today after his trade to the Portland Trail Blazers, I can't help but reflect on the complicated trajectory of a first overall pick. He's putting up solid numbers - 18.2 points and 11.3 rebounds per game in his first 35 games with Portland - but the expectations for a number one selection are always astronomical. What fascinates me about tracking draft picks over time is seeing how their careers diverge from those initial expectations. Ayton may not have become the perennial All-Star that some projected, but he's developed into a reliable starting center who's already achieved more team success than most players in his draft class. The business side of basketball often gets overlooked when we discuss player development, but Ayton's journey perfectly illustrates how contract situations, coaching changes, and team dynamics can dramatically alter a player's path. If there's one thing I've learned from following NBA drafts over the years, it's that judging a pick requires patience - careers aren't made in one season but built over years of adaptation and growth.
