https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...-advanced-deandre-ayton-and-his-tough-season/ CBS: You don't know how it's going to play out with your option yet, but you potentially gave up some money to go to Phoenix. What went into making the decision? RA: It's funny, I had a conversation actually today about this. This is an opportunity for a lot of things. Obviously, we're building for a few years down the line, maybe even when I'm not playing anymore. I have an opportunity to help build a culture on this team. I have an opportunity to help lead these younger guys. I have an opportunity to be myself. One of the first things Igor told me, he said, "You don't need to be anything else but yourself. I want you to just be you." And I could not be that in Houston. And that was tough for me because I play a specific style, I play a specific way. I was brought into that organization because of the way that I play, and it worked for a little while. And then, due to injuries and, obviously, different lineup changes that they had, they wanted to completely change that style that I signed up for. So it was an odd thing. It was hard. And that organization, if you're not a part of that small group of players that are involved in that, then you don't really feel like you're a part of the team. CBS: How do you put that year in perspective now? RA: I've been through a lot in my life, especially in my basketball life -- the past 10 years, I've had tragedy, I've had to obviously overcome quite a bit. But also I've had great basketball moments, I've had moments when I've had to grind and work and work for a role and all of this stuff. So, you know, I kind of look at everything I go through in life as having a purpose. And where do I learn and grow for something like that? Last year was the first time anything like that had happened with me in my career in basketball. I started 53 games or whatever it was, and then all of a sudden I'm not playing at all. The injury couldn't have happened at a worse time for me personally, but at the end of the day, we had a great team, a great organization -- the last thing I wanted to do is be a cancer or be a negative guy. So I had to bite my tongue quite a bit. Media, no offense to you, you know how it is: the media is ruthless, and negativity was a part of a lot of articles written my way. People didn't understand it. I didn't understand it. But the last thing I want to do is be bitter about anything in my life. I've had enough moments of difficulty and struggle in my life. I just want to enjoy my life, enjoy playing basketball. Like I said, I want to be in an environment where I can be myself. It just feels so good to have that now. You can say what you want about me playing or not playing, I've remained the same basketball player. No matter what my percentage was or whatever it is, I've remained me, and if you don't like that, that's OK. That's just how I am. That's how I play. If you don't like a guy that stretches the floor and shoots the ball, then I'm not your guy. But, if you do, which, this team seems to like that, then I'm happy and that's great.
And here I thought J.R. necro-bumped this thread just to put a smile on all of our faces as we rejoiced yet again that Ryan Anderson is no longer a Houston Rocket.
Hey Ryan, it’s because you can’t switch on defense. This is why you need a twitter or instagram so fans could politely tell you.
Maybe if you didn’t play so passive aggressively with you’re shooting and actually worked on you’re defense you still be a Rocket. Just a thought! MF stole 20 million bucks and still has the nerve to complain for his lack of productivity
Nah he didn’t steal and he was worth the money to get here. He was apart of a culture change for us, initially, that propelled us to our current status in the NBA. Don’t take it so personal how rhyno felt. He’s entitled to his bitterness or reluctance about our franchise but he definitely help get us to where we at. We needed players that fit D’Antoni style if okay and he helped us achieved that early in in the process. I wish him nothin but the best of luck in his new journey with the suns
look at Ryno of all people trying to fire shots at the organization...maybe if u made shots at home and weren’t such a non-factor in the playoffs things would’ve turned out better
Ok, he signed up, the team moved on to something else, he didn't fit.....time to move on....nothing wrong with that from any angle. DD
Kinda embarassing tbh...didn't expect that from him but, whatever, i forgot about him pretty much one year ago. I just hate he costed us Melton, smh...
Fans seem to think he is taking shots, but nothing he said was untrue. He was paid to do one thing and then the game changed in a year. People acting like this dude didn't make an effort. Anderson came back year 2 lighter and ready to play defense. It worked for almost half the season when other teams relentlessly went at him 1v1, but he still held his own. It was working until it didn't work anymore, then he was cast aside. MDA didn't even try to get Anderson shots to make him comfortable, he just left him out there to struggle with the same shots he couldn't shoot. While players like EGO (even GG) got his one play in the offense to get him going. 20 mil a year Anderson didn't get that opportunity. Then after being cast aside for months, MDA inexplicably checked Anderson into the most important quarter of the WCF where he preceded to get scorched by Curry...
Ryno went full Dwight on us! "That small group of players" -- AKA, guys who take the shots they were hired to take and hit a decent % of them. Translation: "It wasn't MY fault!" And when you stop doing it, Ryno, you're no longer our guy. Ryan seems like a great guy in many ways, and sure, he's had personal tragedy to deal with, so I feel for him, and I wish him all the luck in the world in Phoenix. But he doesn't seem to want to acknowledge that he was brought in as one type of player, then became a completely different type. It's a common refrain from players to say that MDA tells them to shoot it whenever they feel comfortable, no limitations. Ryno simply stopped feeling comfortable with his shot and became a different player. We didn't need a pass-first PF.
