Leading up to the 2024-25 season, the previous six regular season NBA MVP Awards had been won by three of the most dominant big men in the league. And according to Jason McIntyre of FoxSports, Deandre Ayton, one of the biggest draft disappointments in recent memory, deserves to be in the conversation with Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid.
Ayton In A Class With Former MVPs, Says McIntyre
Deandre Ayton was selected first overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. He lasted five years playing for the team that drafted him, but he was eventually traded to the Portland Trail Blazers before the start of the 2023-24 campaign. That is where he spent the last two years, before signing with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent this past week.
Deandre Ayton says LeBron hasn’t sent him a welcome text since he joined the Lakers
“Hasn’t happened yet. I did get one from Luka.”
(via @Fullcourtpass, @Sedano, @ScottKaplan) pic.twitter.com/9VnONJGMA6
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 10, 2025
He’s averaged solid numbers, but not enough to live up to the expectations. Drafted ahead of guys like Luka Doncic and Trae Young, Ayton has averaged a respectable 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds, but has left plenty to be desired as a former no.1 overall draft pick. There have been questions about his commitment and drive throughout his career, and a lack of effort has shown up on the court on multiple occasions.
Ayton isn’t even available all that often, as he played in just 95 of a possible 164 games over the last two seasons. He hasn’t played in more than 69 games in a season since his rookie year.
But despite that mediocre-at-best resume, McIntyre believes that Deandre Ayton belongs in a class with some of the most accomplished players that we have in the NBA today. When speaking on The Herd on Thursday afternoon, he said the following:
“Ayton through his first seven seasons is kind of, sort of a top-eight center in the league…Jokic is an MVP, Giannis is an MVP, AD is All-NBA, Joel Embiid has an MVP…Deandre Ayton is in that class with them. He was just in Portland so nobody paid attention.”
The take is borderline outlandish. Jokic and Antetokounmpo ranked second and third in the NBA in scoring this past season, with each averaging roughly 30 points per game. Jokic averaged a triple-double as a center, and Giannis was 3.5 assists away from doing the same. Ayton finished ranked 104th in the league in points per game at 14.4.
Jason McIntyre says Deandre Ayton is statistically in the same class as Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, and Joel Embiid… he just didn’t want to be in Portland
(🎥 @TheHerd )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 10, 2025
There are plenty more stats to weigh heavily against McIntyre’s argument, which can be seen even by the casual basketball fan.
Deandre Ayton will be looking to play a pivotal role for the Lakers this upcoming season. Los Angeles was in desperate need of interior help after their shortcomings were on display in the 2025 Playoffs, as they were rolling out guys like Jaxson Hayes and Dorian Finney-Smith. The contract handed to the 27-year-old is with $16.2 million over the course of two seasons.
