The Phoenix Suns selected Arizona big man Deandre Ayton on Thursday in the 2018 NBA Draft held at the Barclays Center in New York.
Ayton who played one year in Tucson has collegiate averages of 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds. He also tied the record for the second-most most double-doubles in a single season with 24 double-doubles in 35 games with Arizona.
Deandre Ayton Says It's 'Mind-Blowing'
The double-double specialist said that he felt honored to be selected by the Suns as its top overall pick. It was also the first time for the Suns to select first in the annual draft. The 19-year-old Ayton who will turn a year older next month is the PAC-12 Freshman of the Year and the PAC-12 Player of the Year.
"Having my name called being the first pick for the Phoenix Suns was mind-blowing. I saw the reaction on my mom's face and it was just priceless." Ayton said.
Historically speaking, the Suns haven't been that lucky when it comes to the draft as it lost a coin flip against the Milwaukee Bucks for Lew Alcindor. It wound up selecting Neal Walk with the second overall pick in 1969.
However, the Suns made sure that their luck would change positively in this year's proceedings as it follow-suited Ayton's selection by trading for another solid player in Villanova guard Mikal Bridges.
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Bridges with the 10th overall pick before trading it to the Suns. The Sixers received 16th pick Zhaire Smith and a 2021 first-round pick courtesy of the Miami Heat.
Bridges have collegiate averages of 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. After failing to hit the double-figure mark on his first two seasons, Bridges elevated his game in his junior year recording a career-high of 17.7 points to go along with 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists while being named in the NCAA All-Tournament team.
High Hopes For The Suns
With the addition of Ayton and Bridges, the Suns are hoping that they could turn their fortunes around in the upcoming season. The Suns finished last season with an embarrassing 21-61 win-loss slate.
Ayton and Bridges will be joining young stars, Josh Jackson and Devin Booker, as they look to steer the Suns back into playoff contention. The Suns last made the playoffs in the 2009-2010 NBA season where they lost in the Western Conference Finals.
The Suns will need all the help they can get next season following a terrible year that saw them becoming just the second team to finish last in both the offensive and defensive efficiency rating. The last team to record such feat was the 2011-2012 Charlotte Bobcats who had the worst winning percentage in history with 106.
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