Phoenix Suns: Top-Five Best First Round Picks of the last Decade
By Adam Maynes
2. Deandre Ayton – WS 6.0 (.129)
Drafted 1st overall in 2018
Deandre Ayton of Luka Doncic was all we heard from the moment the lottery balls turned up the Phoenix Suns first overall to the time of his selection.
Of course, Ryan McDonough decided to take Ayton first overall, leaving Luka to be selected third.
Of course, Luka was an instant hit, is now an MVP candidate in only year two, and Ayton missed 25 of the first 26 games of 2019-20 due to suspension for masking an illegal drug.
That said, even with his suspension, Ayton still has the third-highest Win Share of his draft class (higher than even Trae Young), he has the fourth-highest scoring average of his class (16.4 points), the most rebounds per game (10.3), the third-highest field goal percentage (58.4%), and was the first rookie in franchise-history to average a double-double.
His soft interior play, not very aggressive defense, and his seeming un-willingness to get to the free throw line hurts him both offensively and defensively.
However, he is still finally the franchise’s first true franchise center, and while not the best player in his draft class (that is obviously Luka), he has a chance to still be truly special.