Phoenix Suns star shooting guard Devin Booker says center Deandre Ayton's suspension is “unfortunate.”
Ayton has received a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program by testing positive for a diuretic. His suspension will begin immediately.
Booker is trying to find the positives with this news even though it's clearly a downer for the Suns:
“It's unfortunate losing a player like him, but we have to deal with it. It's going to be bumps through the course (of a season) and we know that as a team, but I think this is going to unify us even more." #Suns Devin Booker on Deandre Ayton's suspension. https://t.co/T9uBMDdeM5 pic.twitter.com/ami7wcvT1r
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 25, 2019
The Suns began the 2019-20 season with a convincing win over the Sacramento Kings at home. Ayton, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft, put up 18 points and 11 rebounds in 33 minutes while shooting an efficient 9-of-14 from the field.
Booker, one of the best scorers in the NBA, finished with 22 points and 10 assists. The offensive burden will be heavy for him in the 25 games that Ayton misses. The other players on the Suns will have to step up if Phoenix wants to survive this 25-game stretch without Ayton.
In his first season in the NBA, Ayton averaged 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in 71 games while shooting 58.5 percent from the floor. People sometimes forget he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft.
Ayton was overshadowed by Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic and Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young last season despite averaging a double-double. That was mostly because the Suns were just so putrid.
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