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NBA star DeAndre Ayton has blamed his early season struggles on sleeping on an air mattress, as the $32-million-a-year center reveals he didn’t have a bed up until now.
Following Thursday night’s loss to the New York Knicks, Ayton, 25, opened up on some obstacles he faced when he first arrived in Portland, earlier this season, and how they have shaped him to finally show the potential the Trail Blazers had counted on since acquiring him from the Phoenix Suns prior to training camp.
‘I got all the money in the world but at the same time, some of this is inhumane where money don’t matter, just having your people and the support you need,’ Ayton told Oregon Live, last week.
After months of inconsistent performances, Ayon has been averaging 29 points and 16.8 rebounds over his last four games. In six of his last seven outings, he has scored 20 points and collected 10 rebounds. The big man had 12 points and six rebounds in that seventh game before leaving the court in the second half with a wrist sprain.
Earlier this season, Ayton wasn’t as dominant as he is now. But, at the time, Ayton said on Thursday, there was a lot more to his struggles than just simply having to play through an entirely different offense than the one in Phoenix and gelling with new players.
Deandre Ayton is finally settling in Portland, averaging 29 points over his last four games
‘My body wasn’t just my body,’ he said. ‘People forget the humane difference of me adjusting to everything.’
That included something as routine as improving his sleeping pattern.
‘Just being comfortable in waking up,’ Ayton said. ‘I didn’t have a bed for quite some time. I was on an air mattress. Just trying to figure this out.’
Ayton is also thankful to the ‘haters’ for fueling his recent run and agreed with Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups about now showing flashes of his ‘unlocked’ potential.
The 25-year-old center scored 20 pts and collected 10 rebounds in six of his last seven outings
‘Most definitely. Coming into these games, I’m trying to do everything,’ he said. ‘Not just my requirements for this team but doing a lot more. And that’s where I am. I’m just more dominant. People like to laugh at it, but that’s the truth.’
Ayton’s success is what Billups was envisioning after the team acquired him in the three-team trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.
‘I think we’ve unlocked him and we’re getting the best version of him, offensively for sure,’ Billups said. ‘He’s been a monster, man. He’s been a monster on the glᴀss. He’s been all over the place. He’s been awesome.’
The Trail Blazers face the Chicago Bulls next later on today.
