Suns center Deandre Ayton led the Bahamian national team to a blowout victory over Cuba in a pre-Olympic qualifying tournament game on Monday, putting up 22 points and 10 rebounds in a game the Bahamas won by 41. Ayton, who said it felt “amazing” to represent his home country, was excited to team up with new Suns wing Eric Gordon, as Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic writes.
“Definitely lit,” Ayton said when asked about playing with Gordon. “Definitely something that you never thought would happen. He’s such a great player as well. Just having a feel for his game before we both hit training camp and start fighting each other to figure out some type of chemistry. I’m glad we’re handling that early. Just us trying to make some history now to make the Olympics is truly something special.”
Asked about the former No. 1 pick, Gordon said he believes he’s an ideal fit alongside Ayton both on the Bahamian squad and in Phoenix.
“He’s going to be a threat,” Gordon said. “So we needed to use him as much as possible. When he gets double-teamed, that’s when you got guys like me to space the floor.”
Here’s more on the Suns:
- Kevin Durant is a former MVP, a 13-time All-Star, and a future Hall of Famer, but former NBA star Kevin Garnett believes the Suns are Devin Booker‘s team, as he said during an episode of Showtime’s Ticket and The Truth (Twitter links). “So down the stretch, Booker’s getting the first look over KD?” Paul Pierce asked. “Abso-f–king-lutely, yeah,” Garnett replied.
- Gerald Bourguet of GoPHNX.com outlines four ways that Bradley Beal can raise the Suns’ ceiling and make them legitimate championship contenders in 2023/24, noting that he’ll help carry the play-making load and can also be a spot-up threat when others are handling the ball.
- In case you missed it, the NBA has announced the schedule for the league’s first ever in-season tournament. The Suns will face the Lakers on November 10, followed by Utah (Nov. 17), Portland (Nov. 21) and Memphis (Nov. 24).
I get it but think it’s foolish to say the Sun’s are anyone’s team. It’s a team sport. They’re fortunate to have two great players. Howabout down the stretch the defense don’t know who’s getting the first look? That’s a real coaches answer…
Garnett is a defensive genius…
He knows that a coach would rather use KD as the decoy in a play designed for Booker than the opposite…
But you are right that the coach shouldn’t be that predictable…
They have three great players.
They have 4 great players ….
They have 5 great players…
Do I hear five great players, let’s go for 6, 7, 8…
Name them ……
Not a World Cup tune-up, but good try. Neither Bahamas or Cuba are in the WC. It is a Pre-Olympic Qualifier tune-up.
Thanks, that’s been fixed.