The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DEANDRE Ayton made his NBA All-Star Weekend debut with several events, highlighted by his appearance at the MTN Dew Ice Rising Stars Challenge.

The Suns’ rookie centre finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists but his Team World lost 161-144 to Team USA Friday night in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Ayton received the starting nod along with fellow rookie Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks/Slovenia) and second year players Lauri Markkanen (Chicago Bulls/Finland), Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers/Australia) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (Sacramento Kings/Serbia). It was the third time a Bahamian player made an appearance in the game following Buddy Hield’s selections in 2017 and 2018.

“That’s pretty good, we’re doing our thing out there, we just have to keep working to get more of our guys out there,” Ayton said of the Bahamian presence in the event. “There’s a lot of great overseas players out here. I guess our grind is different. We work very hard to get here and it’s time to showcase what we’ve got. Looking at the two teams, we are the better-looking team, I think, future wise.”

Ayton likened the game to the experience on the AAU basketball circuit in high school, surrounded by the top players at each event.

“It’s just a lot of fast pace basketball. It was a lot of fun, a lot of dunks. We were competing, but we were competing in a fun way,” Ayton said.

“It was like a top 25 camp. We’re competing, but at the end of the day, off the court, you’re around each other 24/7. It’s kind of what it was here. There’s certain guys that have bigger relationships than others, but people see that and it’s contagious.

“You’re going to end up talking. We’re athletes. We’re not guys who stick to ourselves.”

In addition to the Rising Stars, Ayton was one of three NBA players selected to coach top international prospects at the 5th Basketball Without Borders Camp.

The camp hosted the top 63 high school aged boys and girls from 31 countries and regions and NIKE will serve as the official partner.

Ayton, was joined by fellow international players Bogdanovic and 2019 NBA All-Stars Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets/Serbia) and Nikola Vučević (Orlando Magic/Montenegro), to coach the top high school age campers from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.

The World Team also included three players who participated as campers in Basketball Without Borders (BWB), the

NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program:

Ayton (BWB Global 2016), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (BWB Global 2016) and Markkanen (BWB Europe 2014; BWB Global 2015).

Ayton remembed his days at the BWB camp fondly and looked to impart the knowledge he learned to the group.

“I remember seeing how many young players overseas played pro. I was lowkey jealous so I wanted to hurry up and play pro as well, that’s how I got here.

Just seeing the potential that is overseas is tremendous and being in that environment with different types of players and people, being with them on and off the court is something to experience and it gets you ready for the real world,” he said, “I really enjoyed that, I still remember when they took us to the Rising Stars game and the other events of all-star weekend.”

Looking ahed to the remainder of the season, the No.1 overall pick looks to continue his progression despite the Suns struggles at the bottom of the Western Conference.

“Just shooting the ball more, stretching the floor and being consistent with that. I’m starting to feel more comfortable knowing I have to bring it every play, it’s a job now,” he said, “The NBA is way more faster and way more physical so it’s just about being ready, and being prepared for that.”

Ayton currently leads all rookies with 30 double-doubles, averaging 10.5 rebounds per game and a .588 field goal percentage. He also ranks second in scoring at 16.5 points per game in 53 appearances this season. His field goal percentage is the third-highest in NBA history by a rookie qualified for the league leaderboard and the highest by a rookie who is averaging a double-double.