Deandre Ayton to let his game do the talking when it comes to Embiid
Sep 24, 2018, 6:37 PM | Updated: 11:39 pm
Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton speaks during media day at the NBA basketball team's practice facility in Phoenix, Monday, Sept. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Nov. 19 can’t come soon enough.
Phoenix Suns rookie Deandre Ayton responded to Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid’s recent comments during the team’s media day on Monday.
“I can’t really say anything,” Ayton said when asked about the Philadelphia center. “I haven’t put the ball in the hoop so the only thing I can probably do is just let my game talk. Just compete.
“As soon as I put the ball in the hoop I can say what I want a little bit so I’m waiting.”
On Friday, Embiid was asked about the Suns rookie during the 76ers’ media day.
“He’s going to get his [expletive] kicked this year,” Embiid told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols and Stephen Jackson. “He’s going to be good, but when you talk about ‘he looks like Joel Embiid,’ I play on both sides of the court.
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“I think I’m a good offensive player, good defensive player. I do it on both ends of the floor. I watched him play and he’s got a lot of work to do. But he’s got a lot of potential. He’s going to be really good.”
Suns guard Devin Booker was pleased with how his rookie center responded to the comments.
“What he’s doing just shows maturity out of a young player,” Booker said of Ayton. “You would see a lot of people try to get involved with it, antagonize it, make it bigger than what it is but he sees the bigger picture and that’s really important for him to see.
“He knows he hasn’t proved nothing in this league yet so he’s going to go out there and do it to the best of his ability. I know he’s ready for it and as you know I’m behind him 100 percent through everything.”
This hasn’t been the first time Embiid has spoken out about Ayton.
About 90 minutes after the 2018 NBA Draft, Embiid took to Twitter to shut down any comparisons of the No. 1 overall pick after he was selected by the Suns.
“Don’t compare Ayton to me either… I play DEFENSE,” Embiid wrote.
The two would be back in the news in August when Ayton was making a mock up of his rookie basketball card.
So . . . who is @Suns rook @DeandreAyton posterizing in his @PaniniAmerica Sketch Card? #WhoDoYouCollect #PaniniNBARookie #WhoIsIt pic.twitter.com/2tNE1fZzIs
— Panini America (@PaniniAmerica) August 10, 2018
There’s no clear way of knowing if it was in fact Embiid, but the No. 21 jersey, with what looks like “PHI” on the front, looks awfully familiar.
“I love when KIDS dream BIG,” Embiid said of photo.
Ayton and Embiid will get their first looks at one another on the court Nov. 19 when the Suns head to Philadelphia before the the two meet again on Jan. 1 in Phoenix.
