Paul Pierce: ‘A lot of guys that sign these big deals, the hunger ain’t there no more’

Hall of Famer Paul Pierce thinks that Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton should change his game this season as the 4th option to Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. (via KG Certified): “I think for Ayton to stay engaged, I think he gotta take a look in the mirror. He is a great talent, but the way the league is right now, he gotta change his game. And what I mean by that, he can’t be a back to the basket player or a pick and pop 15 foot jump shooting player. That’s where he ate from the most. He gotta really change his game and be like, ‘Alright.’ And understand what his role is. Because you got three guys on your team that’s capable of averaging 30. So he gotta make himself more valuable, he gotta start shooting threes. If he can be a big that can extend the defense, be a lockdown defender, and rebounder, that’s a great role for him.” -via TalkBasket / August 16, 2023