3. Become an All-Star
This would seem to run counter-intuitive to the previous point, but there is logic to this. Besides the obvious of Ayton playing well enough to be deemed an All-Star, it will also mean he has surpassed both of the goals already laid out above.
If he is so comfortable being the fourth option that he still figures out a way to put up 18 points and 12 rebounds a night, and in doing so is also the difference-maker defensively, then it will be hard to ignore him as an All-Star. Even better, this would be the first selection of Ayton’s career.
DominAYTON 😤
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) September 13, 2023
2/4 & 2/7: @DeandreAyton became the 4th player in @NBA history to record back-to-back games of at least 30 PTS, 15 REBS & 75% FG!
h/t @Stathead | #BestOfNBA pic.twitter.com/2kKZRUiViP
Can you imagine what that would do for his confidence? Knowing he has slipped down the pecking order – and despite being constantly put in trade rumors – yet he still manages to become an All-Star on a team featuring such talented players. This would also likely mean one of Durant or Beal get in, because the Suns aren’t likely to get four players.
But with Durant immune from some of the new rest rules being implemented, perhaps he is no longer a lock to make the All-Star game anyway. Not that he is likely to care, approaching his 35th birthday at the end of this month, it is now all about championships for Durant before he calls it a day.
Perhaps an extended a fruitful run with The Bahamas national team, which Ayton enjoyed this summer, can be just the catalyst needed for him to hit the ground running this coming season. We all know the talent is there, it always has been. Get that attitude right though, and the trade talk will stop and the All-Star selections will start rolling.