Hours after wrapping up the Western Conference Finals, four games to two over the Clippers, they flew back home to Phoenix, Arizona and were welcomed by fans at the Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. Ayton was holding the Western Conference trophy as fans shouted: “Let’s go Suns”.
The Bahamian finished with 16 points and 17 rebounds in 40 minutes of play on the road at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. He finished 8-for-10 on the evening, shooting a blistering 80 percent. He had five offensive boards and two blocks.
In his first year with the Suns, in the 2018-2019 season, the team finished with a 19-63 win/loss and now they are the Western Conference Champions and headed to the NBA Finals. Speaking to reporters in a virtual press conference while sitting by the trophy and wearing a chain with the Bahamian flag pendant on it, a relieved Ayton said that he wants to just enjoy the moment.
“It’s crazy. It’s only my third year and seeing the reaction of C (Chris Paul) made me appreciate it even more. I know people say ‘live in the moment’ but that moment was too long. I was like is this too good to be true. I just have to enjoy this night and get back at it and get ready for the finals,” Ayton said.
Ayton can now become the third Bahamian to win an NBA title and be a part of the first Suns team to win an NBA championship. Mychal Thompson and Rick Fox are the first Bahamians to win an NBA title – Thompson has two and Fox has three, both with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Suns’ point guard Chris Paul led all scorers with 41 points, and probably more impressively, had zero turnovers. Marcus Morris was the Clippers high-point man with 26 points.
When the Suns went to the NBA Finals 28 years ago, Ayton and more than half of the Suns roster were not born as yet. Charles Barkley, now an analyst for TNT, was the Suns’ leader. They fell in six games to the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls in that finals.
The Clippers went small ball again like they did in game five. It did not work according to plan as the Suns raced out to a 33-29 advantage after the first quarter. Ayton was fed early in the first quarter, connecting on five of his six shot attempts. He finished the quarter with 10 points, three boards and one block.
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