Portland Trail Blazers centre Deandre Ayton found himself sidelined for a home game against the Brooklyn Nets due to unexpected challenges stemming from an ice storm in the Portland area. Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups informed reporters that Ayton couldn’t reach the arena, leading to his absence.
Blazers in-house reporter Casey Holdahl revealed crucial details, stating that Ayton was stuck at home for hours, attempting to overcome the effects of the recent ice storm. Despite Deandre Ayton efforts and assistance from the Blazers, he remained trapped, preventing him from making it to the game.
The unusual aspect of the situation lies in the fact that Ayton, a 7-foot-tall and highly athletic NBA player, with the backing of a billion-dollar team, had a substantial amount of time to address the issue. Despite these resources, road conditions and the severity of the ice storm proved formidable.
However, it’s essential to prioritize safety, as driving through icy conditions poses significant risks. The Blazers, already facing a challenging season with a 10-29 record, didn’t have much to lose by playing shorthanded against the Nets. The absence of another key big man, Robert Williams, who underwent season-ending knee surgery in November, further added to the team’s challenges.
Despite Deandre Ayton absence, the Blazers managed to secure a victory against the Nets, winning 105-103 with a last-second floater by Anfernee Simons.
This incident sheds light on the unique challenges faced by Ayton, who is in his first season with the Blazers following a trade from the Phoenix Suns. The Suns, located in a city where such weather concerns are minimal, provided a different environment for Ayton. In his 24 games with the Blazers, the 25-year-old Ayton has been averaging 13.1 points and 10.8 rebounds with a shooting percentage of 54.8% from the field.
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