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The Trail Blazers may have finally unlocked the real Deandre Ayton

Originally posted on Burn City Sports | By Jacob Hardin | Last updated 3/17/24

After missing a string of five games, Deandre Ayton has been on a different level over the past week with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Ayton, who is averaging around 15 points a game this season, has averaged 27.5 points in the Blazers past five games. This includes three 30+ nights.

Also, on the board, Ayton has averaged 14.5 rebounds per game in this span.

In response to this recent breakout performance, Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups noted that they have “unlocked him.”

"We've unlocked him and we're getting the best version of him. He's been a monster. He's been a monster on that glass. He's just been all over the place. Super, super efficient. He's been awesome and our guys are just following his lead." Chauncey Billups on Deandre Ayton. #Suns https://t.co/Ga26c8731k pic.twitter.com/iGYNq3kkQA

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 14, 2024

Ayton’s journey to the Blazers began during the last offseason when he was traded after spending the first five seasons of his career with the Suns. As the top overall pick in the 2018 draft, Ayton initially showed promise but struggled to fully realize his potential.

Ultimately, the Suns opted to move in a different direction, placing their trust in Jusuf Nurkic at the center position.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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