Draymond Green: Deandre Ayton ‘looked like a bust’ before Chris Paul joined the Suns
In a recent podcast with NBA superstar Paul George, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green claimed that Suns center Deandre Ayton ‘looked like a bust’ before Chris Paul joined him with the Phoenix Suns.
Green’s theory comes from DeAndre Ayton not living up to his potential in his first few years with the Suns. The former No. 1 overall pick only averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds his first season in the league, but when Paul showed up, his play increased. When Paul showed up in Phoenix, Ayton’s field goal percentage increased by almost eight percent from his previous season.
The reason behind Green calling Ayton a bust is behind the Warriors’ recent addition of Paul. With the addition of Paul, Green thinks that the veteran point guard can ‘unlock’ Jonathan Kuminga‘s talent.
(All quotes via NYP.)
“No disrespect to Ayton, but more so a nod to (Chris Paul),” Green said during an episode of “Podcast P with Paul George.” “What he would do for Jonathan Kuminga and unlocking Kuminga is huge.
“People didn’t know what Deandre Ayton was gonna turn out to be, and then CP went there and all of a sudden, Deandre Ayton became an All-Star-level player,” Green said. “So I think what he will do for Jonathan Kuminga and unlocking Kuminga is huge, man. Absolutely huge. And I look forward to learning that from him.”
Golden State drafted Kuminga with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft after one year with the G-league Ignite. Although Kuminga was drafted high by the Warriors, like Ayton, he hasn’t lived up to his hype. In his first two seasons, Kuminga has averaged just under 10 points per game on over 51 percent from the field.
Now, with the addition of Paul, Green has some high hopes of Kuminga finalizing his potential in the NBA.
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