25 years ago, the NBA was loaded with post-up, defensive minded big men who displayed a feathery touch and good hands. Hakeem Olajuwon changed the game with his smoothness as a 7-foot center, handling like a guard in addition to unstoppable post moves and a supreme ability to protect the rim. David Robinson led the league in scoring and scored 71 in a game, Patrick Ewing had an automatic mid-range jump shot, and Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo controlled the interior with their shot blocking. There was also a young brute by the name of Shaquille O'Neal who would turn out to be the league's most dominant physical presence since Wilt Chamberlain.
In the league today, the traditional center - post play, mid-range, defense - has seemed to give way to a "stretch 5" type - where 3 pointers and face ups are most common than back to the basket, interior rim protectors, and rim runners. Look hard enough, and you'll find a young center who seems to have all the tools mentioned as part of the former era of bigs. Watch him play, and you'll think of the way centers used to play.
Deandre Ayton is 21 years old, Bahamas born, and soon to be two years removed from being the number one overall pick in the NBA draft, when he was selected, in 2018, by the Phoenix Suns after one year at the University of Arizona. He's 6'11, 250 pounds, not a bulldozer in the paint and not with guard like athleticism like an Anthony Davis. What Ayton does have, though, is an arsenal that is relatively complete, with untapped potential that is soon to be blossoming. The game that brings you back 25 years is the way he runs the floor - instead of stopping at the three point line or posting at the mid-range, he gets into the paint and turns and posts, prime for an entry pass from Ricky Rubio or Devin Booker. He runs the pick and roll very well, moving toward the basket to give his guard a target close to the hoop, and can also pop out and hit a 15-18 footer. He has soft hands that allow him to catch and finish easy, with one of his weaknesses only being that his jumper sometimes is flat as he struggles to get arc.
In 7 games this season with 5 starts (he was suspended for 25 after the season opener because of a violation of the league's substance policy and missed 5 straight games with an ankle sprain), he is averaging 15.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.4 blocks. In the four games where he's played over 30 minutes, his numbers are as follows:
16 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block (31 minutes)
15 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block (37 minutes)
14 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal (31 minutes)
21 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block (37 minutes)
In the return game from his suspension (December 17 vs the Los Angeles Clippers), he posted 18 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block in 24 minutes. In the Suns' offense, Ayton gets most of his touches in pick and roll situations and post ups, with the occasional instance where he'll catch the ball extended and face up the defender. When he does that, he has the ability also to knock down that shot.
Going down the list, he checks all the boxes you want to be checked from your center.
He's a throwback player, and at 21, only getting better.
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