When you're from the islands, that's that pride. Deandre Ayton More Quotes by Deandre Ayton More Quotes From Deandre Ayton I'm representing the Bahamas; I'm representing a lot of islands - it's a whole nation behind me, on my back. Deandre Ayton 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. Deandre Ayton you business want trying I used to get butterflies when I'd see big dudes. I don't get butterflies no more. Deandre Ayton more get big see 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. Deandre Ayton 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. Deandre Ayton 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. Deandre Ayton brand you dope team No one's built like me. I play 110% on both ends of the floor. Deandre Ayton 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. Deandre Ayton 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. Deandre Ayton 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. Deandre Ayton 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. Deandre Ayton down game you space Everybody was pressuring me to play basketball, so I was like, 'OK, I'll do it.' Deandre Ayton 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. Deandre Ayton 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. Deandre Ayton 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. Deandre Ayton 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. Deandre Ayton will me you i-can I'm an entertainer. Puma knows entertainers and the way we move. Deandre Ayton 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. Deandre Ayton 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. Deandre Ayton new kid see basketball When I was in high school, I was thinking about getting ideas and making my first shoe, how it would be, and what brand it would be. Deandre Ayton high-school ideas school thinking
