The anticipation has been building among fans, the Phoenix Suns locker room and across the NBA as Deandre Ayton will officially return to the hardwood on Tuesday night when the team tips-off against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Suns have exceeded many preseason projections to begin the year and will now reestablish a dominant presence in the paint as the former first overall pick is reinserted into the lineup.
From the first moment Ayton stepped onto an NBA court as a rookie, his impact was felt across the league. Ayton recorded 19 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists in his historic debut last season as he became the only player to record at least 18-10-6 in their first professional game since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1969, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.