Phoenix Suns and former Arizona Wildcats big man Deandre Ayton has been suspended for 25 games for violating the NBA’s Anti-Drug policy, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
If the suspension is upheld, it will cost Ayton roughly $2.2 million in salary. The 7-footer had 18 points and 11 rebounds in the Suns’ opener on Wednesday.
Ayton averaged 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game as a rookie last season, getting named to the All-NBA Rookie First Team.
Ayton was a consensus All-American, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, and the winner of the Karl Malone Award in his lone season at Arizona.
The NBPA is already preparing arbitration case to reduce or rescind penalty, based on belief positive test falls under CBA provision of ‘unintentional ingestion’, league sources tell ESPN. Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
If the suspension is upheld, it will cost Ayton roughly $2.2 million in salary. The 7-footer had 18 points and 11 rebounds in the Suns’ opener on Wednesday.
Ayton averaged 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game as a rookie last season, getting named to the All-NBA Rookie First Team.
Ayton was a consensus All-American, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, and the winner of the Karl Malone Award in his lone season at Arizona.