Portland — Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton has heard the hate. Despite averaging a career double-double, the 7-foot center from Arizona State, in his sixth season, knows there will be questions and jokes. In fact, there are a lot of jokes.
But when Ayton is at his best, as he has been ever since the calendar flipped to 2024, he's laughing.
“I hear, I hear, I love it,” Ayton said of his doubts. “I appreciate all the haters on this game because they helped me approach this game the right way and carry PDX all the way. So I appreciate them. I wear it all the time.”
Ayton scored a season-high 33 points on 15-of-20 shooting, 19 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block to lead the Trail Blazers to a 106-102 victory over Atlanta. Hawks Wednesday night at Moda Center.
The Trail Blazers are 19-46 overall and 11-23 at home this season.
Deandre Ayton Highlights (33 PTS, 19 REBS) | Trail Blazers vs. Atlanta Hawks | March 13
Ayton's performance Wednesday night was one of the best for a Trail Blazer, but that's not unusual for the 25-year-old Bahamian these days. It was the second time this season he had at least 30 points and 19 rebounds in a game, something only he and Nikola Jokic have done.
“I'm just going to play hard and approach the game the way I want to play,” Ayton said. “It's just a great night every night to play with them, get to know them, go out there and compete with them. That's all I can say, and that's what led to the results to be honest.”
In three games since returning from missing five games due to a hand injury, Ayton is averaging 26.0 points, 17.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists on 57 percent shooting from the field and 100 percent from the free throw line in 36.5 minutes. With 1.0 steals per game, he is one of only three players this season to have at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in three consecutive games.
Additionally, this is the second-longest streak in team history, with only Bill Walton holding a longer streak. He has double-doubles in six consecutive games and eight of the last nine, averaging 22.4 points, 62 percent shooting and 14.6 rebounds. So the guy who calls himself “Domin Ayton” is, well, dominant.
“I feel like going into these games and trying to do everything,” Ayton said. “Not just fulfilling my requirements, my role on this team, but doing more than that. That's where I am. I'm more dominant. People laughed at that. It's true, but it's true.”
Deandre Ayton Postgame Interview | Portland Trail Blazers 106, Atlanta Hawks 102
After a rocky start to his career in Portland, much of which can be attributed to injuries, Ayton has become the franchise center the Trail Blazers had hoped for when they made them the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft. It's starting to look similar. From the Phoenix Suns before the start of the season. The stakes are a little lower this season as the Trail Blazers prioritize development over winning, but Ayton's recent play gives us reason to believe the big man variable in the rebuilding equation is fixed. .
“I'm just trying to bust its ass. That's it,” Ayton said. “I strive to be great, whether I look like the bad guy or not. I strive to be a winner in this league. I strive to be known as that guy. If you stay by my side, you will learn how to win.”
Anfernee Simons finished Wednesday's win with 36 points, eight assists, five rebounds and one steal in 42 minutes. Dalano Banton had 12 points, five rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes. Chris Murray contributed nine points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in 32 minutes, and Matisse Thybulle contributed eight points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Next up is Thursday night, when the Trail Blazers host the Knicks for the second game of a back-to-back series and the final game of a six-game homestand.Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.