Deandre Ayton

Professions :

I'm representing the Bahamas; I'm representing a lot of islands - it's a whole nation behind me, on my back.

behind nation back me

Nike is Nike. Adidas is Adidas. I've played in their circuits and stuff like that, but now it's a business. You don't want just product. You're not a kid anymore. You're really trying to get bank. That's about it.

you business want trying

I used to get butterflies when I'd see big dudes. I don't get butterflies no more.

more get big see

When you're from the islands, that's that pride.

you pride islands

I've been saying it before the lottery, before the Phoenix Suns even had the No. 1 pick. I've just been talking it into the existence. I'm not saying I'm the best player in the draft and trying to be cocky like that, but I was just saying I'm going to be the No. 1 pick, regardless.

saying best trying talking

When you think you're showing effort, and your body language is showing that, then you're really playing your best, and then nobody will be able to talk bad about your game.

best game you effort

I grew up wearing PUMA, and our national team is sponsored by PUMA, so those were always in the store. We couldn't afford Nike or Jordan, so PUMA was our brand. If you were wearing PUMA, that's dope.

brand you dope team

No one's built like me. I play 110% on both ends of the floor.

floor like me play

I play basketball. I play center, and if you haven't watched me play, I'm not a regular big man. I can move my feet. Not saying I can stop anyone out there who's in front of me, but trust me: I can really be a problem on the perimeter guarding somebody.

me you man trust

Demarcus Cousins, he can move. With his size, he can really use his size on the perimeter against anybody. That's what I want to do when I get to the league.

cousins get size want

I wasn't really a student of the game. I just played it because I loved it. I didn't really look into the greats as much. They just put a ball in my hand, and I did what the coach told me to.

loved game look me

I still have my back to the basket because there's going to be times where I'm going to really have to score down low, but I'm really working on my face-up game because in the league, there's more space, and there's not double-teams and triple-teams coming at you like how it was in college.

down game you space

Everybody was pressuring me to play basketball, so I was like, 'OK, I'll do it.'

like me basketball play

My head was - I wasn't screwed up, but I feel like I was shifted away from my family a lot with this basketball stuff. You have people coming around you saying they are family or whatever. They try to keep you away from your real family. That kind of got me.

me you family people

When I started playing basketball, they always would have me at the block, and I'm like, 'Yo, I don't want to play down here. I want to do something else.' This is not entertaining to me, and whatever the guards do, I wanted to do.

down me basketball want

To me, I don't even think I had a childhood. From when I was a baby to 12 years old, yes. But as soon as I left the Bahamas, that stuff was over. It was just straight business. I'm on a mission. That's how it's always been.

me childhood business baby

I will dive on the floor for a loose ball. That's how I'm trained. I can guard a guard if I want to. That's just that price. I'm not gonna sit here and let you score on me. That's in my blood.

will me you i-can

I'm an entertainer. Puma knows entertainers and the way we move.

entertainer move knows way

Puma was the best deal. To me, anybody can make your shoe. Anybody can make the best shoe for you and put the right fit in the shoe.

your best me you

I was the kid in basketball camps wanting to see the new gear that comes out or the gear that the camps give.

new kid see basketball

Brian Urlacher

Brendan Brazier

Bill Rodgers

Aimee Mullins

Ivana Trump

Adam Goucher