CHARACTER COUNTS
Suns Deandre Ayton bringing special guest to NBA Draft Lottery
Phoenix Suns’ center Deandre Ayton will be representing the team at the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery on May 14.
However, he will not be attending alone.
The Suns welcomed Gabriel Olvera to Talking Stick Resort Arena on Wednesday and gave him a tour of the facility.
We’ve got a special friend touring the arena with us today!
Everyone give Gabriel a warm Suns hello 👋 pic.twitter.com/8FqLhWFnxg
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 8, 2019
Olvera is an 8-year-old patient at Phoenix Children’s Hospital that was diagnosed with critical aortic stenosis with evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).
When his mother was 27 weeks pregnant with him, Olvera was required to have heart surgery in his mother’s womb to save both ventricles and four chambers of his heart. The surgery was successful and the 8-year-old boy has endured two open-heart surgeries since that time and will eventually need his aortic valve and mitral valve replaced.
To say Olvera is a Suns fan would be an understatement, as the youngster was star struck upon meeting Ayton.
Oh hey @DeandreAyton! pic.twitter.com/e06LwmmYxe
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 8, 2019
And for a kid, no trip to the Suns’ arena is complete without a jersey of his favorite player.
Hooked Gabriel up with the swag 🤙 pic.twitter.com/tcHZqplqKf
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 8, 2019
Olvera even got in on the action during the Suns Dunk Squad practice, providing a perfect assist on the dunk.
Ran into our friend from the Dunk Squad on the practice court!
Gabriel with the assist! pic.twitter.com/3qFrA9rs73
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 8, 2019
The 8-year-old finally got to show his skills from the free throw line. Ayton was sitting on the low block preparing for a rebound, but his 7-foot-1 services were not needed as the free throw was reminiscent to that of Steve Nash.
Hitting the court with DA!
MONEY 💰 pic.twitter.com/9PCiVJOcyZ
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 8, 2019
Olvera’s hot streak did come to an end, however, but Ayton’s put-back jam proved why he averaged a double-double this season.
This is a team!
And guess where this team is going?… pic.twitter.com/vBt4pqhgSE
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 8, 2019
At the end of the day’s fun, Ayton and the Suns Gorilla presented the youngster with an invitation to join the Suns center at the Draft Lottery in Chicago.
CHICAGO!
Gabriel and @DeandreAyton take on the #NBADraftLottery!
See you soon Windy City! pic.twitter.com/sHrMS7nTAI
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 8, 2019
Ready for the #NBADraftLottery ✈️
Tune-in next week for our adventures around the city! pic.twitter.com/0FZc8lL5hq
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 8, 2019
Olvera’s dream is to one day be playing for the Suns in the NBA.
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