NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: CLIPPERS VS. SUNS

June 26, 2021

DeAndre Ayton

Phoenix Suns

Game 4: Postgame

Phoenix Suns - 84, Los Angeles Clippers - 80

Q. I don't know what's better the game or the shirt.

DEANDRE AYTON: This shirt? This shirt's way better. A little motivation to come in. My boy got all banged up, so it was just sending a little message.

Q. What did you learn about yourself and your teammates during that cold stretch in the fourth quarter? I guess it was 71 that you guys were stuck on for a while, you end up winning this tough game. What did you learn about yourself and your teammates?

DEANDRE AYTON: My teammates are really relentless. We have a thing on the team where something called togetherness and we play as a unit, we come together, and we just fight over adversity and fight over fatigue. Our mental stamina was there today and we did a good job of that.

Me, I learned I could keep going. There's another level; I learned that. I think I reached the next level that I really need to be at, at this level when it comes to competing.

Q. I know how much you love watching film, in a playoff series where you've had to dissect things along the way. How much are you enjoying that process of watching things evolve and making your own adjustments and things like that?

DEANDRE AYTON: I like it because you can see what teams like to do and they see what we like to do. So I mean you just seeing how they coming with different coverages to counter our plays and stuff like that, it's really lit. I would say with me, just knowing teams’ tendencies, knowing their bread and butter, just stopping -- I don't want to say cheat the play but just predicting it and just having a sense of urgency.

Q. Now that you've got so much playoff experience, what do you know about close-out games?

DEANDRE AYTON: It's important, every possession counts, really from the jump ball. But when it comes down to like, comes down to that and fatigue is kicking in, everything counts. The whistle might not go your way, 50/50 balls are going to be really, really precious and just having that mental stamina again, just really having that mindset that it's not going to go your way and you have to play through it. Calls are going to be called and making free throws at the end -- I really give my props up to C because he really got some ice in his veins, you know what I'm saying? He knocked it down and carried us on.

Q. With that sort of ability to, even when things don't go your way, to keep fighting, is there something in your personal past, playing on the court or anything in life that kind of taught you to do that? Because some people can't do that.

DEANDRE AYTON: I mean, it's just basketball. I went through tougher things than this through life. So just overcoming fatigue and a little adversity, I mean I'm blessed. And to have a team that really keeps my head together and I got their back and they got mine and the coaching staff where they, their sense of urgency was, I really liked it today. They really locked in on just making sure that they were alert and know what was coming. And you, as you could see at the end of the game, there was a lot of subs, I ain't never been through none of that, but I understand what they were trying to do. I really enjoyed all that have.

Q. Are we going to get Book with a shirt with your face on it?

DEANDRE AYTON: Hopefully. Hopefully.

Q. Career high for rebounds with 22. Nine on the offensive end. Chris said before at shoot around you were like, I got the paint. How much was this personal for you to be that way on the glass?

DEANDRE AYTON: I'm going to be honest, I got outplayed last game. Zubac did a great job of controlling the glass and being a presence down low at both ends of the floor. And it was up to me to get in front of that or compete with that or challenge that. Just trying my best, that's about it. Just really trying my best to just be relentless on the glass and really tried to control both ends of the floor with my presence, talking, just my effort, second effort.

Q. At one point you guys were just, neither team could make a shot. At what point were you like, what the hell is going on?

DEANDRE AYTON: I was like, this is, this is Finals basketball right here. This is really what it is. Like it's a good shot, but your legs ain't there. It looked good, but it ain't. And you just got to stick with it, keep doing what you do and don't really react on things like that. And as a young team we got some vets on this team who can really buckle up and they know this was going to happen and you just got to keep pushing and keep chipping down.

Q. Monty and a couple of your teammates mentioned that they have seen your level of focus just go to a completely, a whole new level during the playoffs. How did you go about doing that? Did someone help you get there, was it just you in your own head, just like what has allowed you to get to that intense level of focus that's required?

DEANDRE AYTON: Honestly, the world having me as a question mark in the playoffs. That got to me a little bit. And I'm going to change that. That's about it. Just a question mark on me. You know. And I just wanted to change that and prove everyone wrong.

Q. What does that require every day?

DEANDRE AYTON: Consistency. Simple, point blank, period consistency. Just approaching the game the right way to start off and just doing the right things. Getting ready for the next game and making sure you're prepared, watching film heavily, knowing what teams are going to throw at us. Asking coach questions, telling him what I see as well and just making sure you're comfortable going into the game.

Q. Talk about the impact Chris Paul has had on you.

DEANDRE AYTON: I love CP, man. Like I said, that's really the only teammate that really push me. Like big bro type push. Knowing what I got and that I ain't never thought that I had. I think he was the best thing that happened to my career. I can say that every day. Just C is really a dude who pays attention to detail. It's not how you say it, it's what he's saying. I think most people don't get it. It's just the message for real. And he cares so much, it's actually great. I never know a guy who cares so much about basketball and competing at everything. And it's contagious and that's what he built in me as well and just having him as a teammate and the experience that he's went through and teaching me the little things has helped me and it's working.

Q. Do you feel like you need to pay that back by taking it to another level?

DEANDRE AYTON: I'm going to try my best. I'm going to try my best. I know, I know how it is as an older player and being in the league and stuff like that. So when you have an opportunity like this, you can't take it for granted. And he let us know, he let us know and we know the task at hand.

Q. You alluded today and Chris talked about it earlier, talked about how this season you guys had some very heated conversations and now talked about just like this love and respect that he has for you. How did you receive those conversations at the beginning and how has your relationship evolved into like the mad respect you guys have for each other?

DEANDRE AYTON: I would say it started in training camp. First thing he told me was, you know, the thing that's going to keep me in the league for a long time is angles. And I was like, angles? I was like I do everything. Angles? You know, hey, it's just angles of the screen, angles to get a rebound, being in position for an offensive board and just stuff like today, just using what he said and him just always keeping that in my head. Me being in the pick-and-roll with him, you know, this is -- I won't say it's easy, but he makes it easy to where either he's open or I'm open and we're going to get something out of it. That's what I've been learning through the reps with him.

Q. I need a little more to the story on the shirt. Who made it for you, where did you get it? And also he's a fashionable guy, so do you think the bloody nose is good for his rep?

DEANDRE AYTON: I like it. Now people know Book is tough. They know he's a scorer but he's legit. Toughness, that's D-Book, man. He's a little crazy but toughness is him.

But the shirt was made by Brand C. One of my friends made it for me and just to really show that we here. We're going to take a punch in the face but we will throw one back.