Deandre Ayton was once considered one of the biggest talents in the NBA, but that notion quickly became a thing of the past.
In 2018, Deandre Ayton entered the league as the top prospect, selected as the first overall pick by the Phoenix Suns. However, as time went on, it seemed that he wasn’t living up to the trust placed in him by that selection. He became known as a decent defender depending on motivation and a very modest scorer, which resulted in a trade after a full five years.
His move to the Portland Trail Blazers seemed like a great move in terms of revival. A young team in search of a new leader, and Ayton could have been just that. However, the opposite happened. He likely had the worst season of his career, averaging just 12.5 points in January with a very modest contribution on defense.
What’s even more bizarre in the whole story is the alleged reason for his poor performances. Namely, the center revealed that he was bothered because he slept on an air mattress?!
“My body wasn’t just my body. People forget the human difference when I’m adjusting to everything. The waking-up process in the morning was uncomfortable for me. I didn’t have a bed for a long time. I slept on an air mattress. I was just trying to figure all this out,” said Ayton.