2025-26 Season
DEANDRE AYTON
2025-26 Season
DEANDRE AYTON
PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology
TEAM COMPARISON
of 15 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
Similar Players
Same position, closest production profile this season.
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 93 Centers with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
A staggering hot streak of hyper-efficient interior finishing and sheer physical imposition defined Deandre Ayton’s first twenty games of the season. He completely dictated the flow of the game on 11/03 vs POR, logging 29 points and 10 rebounds to generate a massive +19.4 impact score. That towering number stemmed directly from his flawless shot selection and an ability to convert highly efficient looks around the rim. Even when his scoring volume vanished, he found ways to contribute. He scored just 9 points on 10/31 vs MEM but still managed a +0.8 impact score because his disciplined interior finishing kept the baseline offense afloat despite grabbing zero rebounds. Yet, his passivity occasionally returned to haunt him. He posted a -3.9 impact score on 12/25 vs HOU despite shooting a near-perfect 5-for-6 from the floor for 10 points. Soft pick-and-roll coverages and a glaring inability to secure contested defensive rebounds dragged down his overall rating in that matchup, revealing the hidden defensive costs of his occasional lack of motor.
A wildly oscillating pendulum of interior dominance and maddening passivity defined this stretch of the season for Deandre Ayton. When he actually decided to seal his man and attack with intent, he was downright unstoppable. Look at his staggering +17.5 impact score on 01/18 vs TOR, where he shot a flawless 10-for-10 from the floor by relying on absolute perfection around the rim rather than settling for soft jumpers. Yet, his habit of drifting away from the basket still reared its ugly head. During a frustrating showing on 01/24 vs DAL, a heavy volume of forced, contested hooks cratered his offensive efficiency, resulting in a brutal 4-for-16 shooting night and a -2.5 impact score. Fortunately, he found ways to contribute even when his offensive touch abandoned him entirely. On 01/07 vs SAS, he managed only 9 points, but his disciplined defensive anchoring kept his overall impact at a positive +2.5 for the night.
A maddening tug-of-war between flawless interior efficiency and inexplicable passivity defined this mid-season stretch for Deandre Ayton. When he actually demanded the basketball, he was an absolute force. Look at his 03/12 vs CHI performance, where he bullied his way to 23 points and 10 rebounds on 10-of-13 shooting, generating a robust +8.0 impact score by punishing smaller defenders on the block. Even when his scoring volume plummeted, he could still warp the game through pure hustle and defensive discipline. On 03/16 vs HOU, he managed just 7 points but posted a stellar +8.1 impact rating because he fully embraced a gritty rim-protection role and controlled the glass with 11 boards. Yet, those aggressive flashes only made his frequent disappearing acts more frustrating. During the 03/19 vs MIA matchup, his extreme reluctance to engage in the pick-and-roll completely neutralized his offensive gravity, resulting in an abysmal -8.2 impact score despite hitting three of his five shots. He possesses the soft touch to dominate the paint every night, but his recurring refusal to impose his physical will keeps his ceiling artificially capped.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Volatile for his role. Ayton has noticeable ups and downs, with scoring moving ~7 points between games.
Reliable shooter — hits 45%+ from the field in 88% of games. You can count on efficient nights more often than not.
Defensive difference-maker. Ayton consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Performance has dropped off. First-half impact: +11.7, second-half: +6.7. Worth watching whether it's fatigue, injury, or opponents adjusting.
Hot right now — 4 straight games with positive impact. Longest positive run this season: 9 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 69 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
73 games played
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