Deandre Ayton's Injury History

Deandre Ayton is the starting center for the Portland Trail Blazers. Ayton was the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, selected by the Phoenix Suns. He stuffed the stat sheet on his NBA debut with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal, and a block against the Dallas Mavericks. He was the first rookie since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) in 1969 to record such stats in his debut. Ayton had a terrific rookie season. On October 27, 2018, he scored 24 points on near-perfect shooting, making 12 of 13 shots against the Memphis Grizzlies. Ayton was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2019. He also set a franchise record by reaching 1,000 rebounds in just 94 games.

In 2021, Ayton made his playoff debut with many memorable performances. In Game 1 of the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers, he scored 21 points on 10-of-11 shooting and grabbed 16 rebounds in a 99–90 win. In the Western Conference Finals, Ayton delivered a highlight moment with a game-winning, buzzer-beater alley-oop dunk in Game 2, scoring 24 points with 14 rebounds. In Game 4, he recorded 19 points, 22 rebounds, and 4 blocks in an 84–80 win over the Clippers. In September 2023, Ayton was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. In his first season with the Blazers, he played 55 games, averaging 16.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Entering the 2024-25 season, his seventh in the NBA, Ayton will earn a salary of $34,005,126.

Deandre Ayton’s Injury History

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft Deandre Ayton has faced multiple injuries throughout his career. Particularly, Ayton suffered recurring ankle issues that disrupted his availability. Here are all the major injuries Ayton has encountered in the NBA:

Major Injuries Deandre Ayton Sustained in the NBA

Left Ankle Sprain (January 2019)

Deandre Ayton suffered a left ankle sprain in his rookie season on January 19, 2019, during a game against the Charlotte Hornets. As per Basketball Reference data, Ayton missed six games in late January due to this injury.

Left Ankle Sprain (March 2019)

Deandre Ayton’s ankle troubles continued later in his rookie year as he sprained the same left ankle against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 30, 2019. As per Bleacher Report, this ankle injury was so severe that Ayton had to be wheeled from the tunnel to the locker room and used crutches afterwards. This setback caused him to miss the final five games of the 2018-19 season.

Right Ankle Sprain (March 2019)

Deandre Ayton suffered a right ankle sprain on December 17, 2019, during a matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers. This injury forced him to sit out five games, adding to his ankle-related absences.

Right Leg Contusion (November 2021)

Deandre Ayton suffered a right leg contusion during a November 2021 game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ayton was initially brought back to play against the New Orleans Pelicans after just one game of rest. However, in this game, Ayton started feeling discomfort in his right leg. As reported by Valley of the Suns, Phoenix Suns management and coaches realized that Deandre Ayton needed more time to fully recover, so they decided to rest him for another five games.

Ankle Sprain (January 2022)

In a January 16, 2022 game against the Detroit Pistons, Deandre Ayton suffered another ankle injury, this time in the first quarter. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game and ultimately missed seven games while recovering from the sprain.

Knee Injury (December 2023 - January 2024)

On December 23, 2023, Deandre Ayton experienced knee discomfort during a game against the Golden State Warriors. After the incident, the Suns determined he needed time to heal. This knee injury resulted in a 12-game absence that stretched into early 2024.