Blazers' Deandre Ayton Says He Wasn't Sleeping on a Proper Bed During Early Struggles

Trail Blazers big man Deandre Ayton had a tough time adjusting to life in Portland earlier this season after being traded from the Phoenix Suns, but there was more to his issues than just learning a new system.

Speaking to reporters last week, Ayton opened up about some of the obstacles he has faced in a new environment, including the fact that he didn't have bed and was sleeping on an air mattress for a while.

"My body wasn't just my body," Ayton said. "People forget the humane difference of me adjusting to everything."

He added: "Just being comfortable in waking up. I didn't have a bed for quite some time. I was on an air mattress. Just trying to figure this out."

Ayton spent the first five seasons of his career in Phoenix after being selected by the Suns first overall in the 2018 draft out of Arizona.

While he was effective during his tenure with the franchise, the Suns flipped Ayton to the Trail Blazers in the three-team trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in September.

During the first half of the 2023-24 campaign in Portland, Ayton failed to live up to expectations and couldn't establish himself as the inside presence the Trail Blazers were hoping he would be.

Some of those struggles could be due to the fact he has been limited to just 45 games this year due to injuries.

Through 37 games ahead of the NBA's All-Star break, Ayton averaged just 13.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 56.0 percent from the floor.

In eight games since the All-Star break, the 25-year-old has averaged 24.5 points, 14.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 64.3 percent from the floor.

But even when he's not on top of his game Ayton said he wants his teammates to know he can be relied on, win or lose.

"I just want people to believe no matter what the game is, no matter how it looks, regardless, no matter the fact, I'm gonna try my best way to make winning plays," Ayton said. "That's just it. Whether it's me scoring, rebounding, blocking shots, cheering on my teammates, getting them going, making plays, just rolling to the rim, not getting the ball, it don't matter. I'm just trying to show everybody I can do it all."

The Trail Blazers are 14th in the Western Conference with a 19-48 record and won't make the playoffs this season, so the goal for Ayton should be to finish out the year on a high note and build some momentum heading into the 2024-25 campaign.