NBA Summer League: Deandre Ayton Outplays Mo Bamba as Suns Beat Magic

Joseph Zucker @@JosephZuckerFeatured ColumnistJuly 10, 2018

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: DeAndre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns and Mohamed Bamba #5 of the Orlando Magic look on during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images

In a battle of rookie big men, Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton got the better of Orlando Magic center Mohamed Bamba in the NBA Summer League.

Not only did Ayton help the Suns walk away with a 71-53 victory Sunday, but he also posted a double-double in doing so. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick scored 17 points and collected 13 rebounds.

Ayton's athleticism was on display as he slammed home an alley-oop from Suns guard Elie Okobo:

NBA @NBA
Deandre Ayton slams it home! #NBASummer https://t.co/vmxkOWeuCt

Despite Ayton's gaudy numbers, The Stepien's Cole Zwicker didn't go overboard with his praise of the former Arizona Wildcats star:

Cole Zwicker @colezwicker
Ayton has been *fine*. Don't get the extremist reactions on either side. Going to be good & produce. Q is how good relative to winning

Bamba dominated on the defensive end but struggled to make an impact offensively. He finished with more blocks (five) than points scored (four). But his rim protection and work on the glass (three offensive rebounds, two defensive rebounds) highlighted how the No. 6 overall pick can make an impact for the Magic right away.

Some of Bamba's teammates were in attendance for his block party:

Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
Mo Bamba blocked a driving layup attempt by Josh Jackson, and the play prompted Aaron Gordon and Terrence Ross to stand up from their baseline seats and cheer.

While neither the Suns nor Magic are likely to be playoff contenders in 2018-19, the individual battle between Ayton and Bamba should make their head-to-head matchups fun to watch in the regular season.

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