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What to watch for in Deandre Ayton’s Phoenix Suns return

By Kyle Manthe

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 23: Deandre Ayton seen followng the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 23, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 23: Deandre Ayton seen followng the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 23, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 23: Deandre Ayton seen followng the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 23, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 23: Deandre Ayton seen followng the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 23, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /

As Deandre Ayton makes his return for the Phoenix Suns all of the focus will be on him. So what should you be looking out for when watching him back on the court?

The long wait is finally over, for the first time since opening night Deandre Ayton is allowed to play for the Phoenix Suns. And they will need him tonight going against the Los Angeles Clippers. The game will be the start of Ayton’s redemption and, for all intents and purposes, begin a new stage in his career.

While it is not fair to make any kind of big judgments based off of one game, the stretch of games after Ayton’s return will be very telling in terms of his development, with the first one being the most telling of the bunch.

For the first game back, on the list of things to be watching for surrounding Deandre Ayton, the box score should not be at the top of the list. We already know that if Ayton merely plays how he did in his rookie season he can fill the stat sheet. To unlock his superstar potential he will need to be doing other things that do not give him his nightly double-double.

It might be unfair to judge some of these numbers given the health situation of Devin Booker. Booker playing completely changes the role that Ayton will need to play and could change the numbers he ends up with.

There are also unique circumstances around Ayton with the unofficial start to his sophomore season since he is returning from a significant suspension. This creates additional factors that should be evaluated surrounding his return.

These are the tendencies and interactions that should be observed the closest from Ayton in the coming games. Negative outcomes for any of these would change the way we view Ayton as a player going forward and his role in the Phoenix Suns future.

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