Deandre Ayton says he gained generational wealth that can help his family and many others after signing a four-year, $133 million maximum contract extension to return to the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
But there was also a business lesson involved, too, for the young center as the contract initially came via a matched offer sheet from the Indiana Pacers.
“This is a blessing,” Ayton told ESPN’s Andscape in a phone conversation after signing his contract. “This contract not only has generational impact for my family, but also with the way we are able to work in the Phoenix community and home in the Bahamas. That is the things that we go by …
“I’ve come to understand that this is a business. So, I was more anxious to know the end of the result so I could focus, move on and just get back to work. I just treated everything like a business. Just keep being professional, approach everything with professionalism and not looking too deep into it.”
“I’ve come to understand that this is a business. So, I was more anxious to know the end of the result so I could focus, move on and just get back to work. I just treated everything like a business. Just keep being professional, approach everything with professionalism and not looking too deep into it.”
Ayton was the No. 1 pick of the renowned 2018 NBA draft that also included Luka Doncic (third), Jaren Jackson Jr. (fourth), Trae Young (fifth) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11th). Ayton has averaged 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds with Phoenix through the first four seasons of his career. The 6-foot-11, 250-pounder played a key role in the Suns advancing to the 2021 NBA Finals.
Courtesy: ESPN
