Twitter Torches Deandre Ayton for Recent Play

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton has seen his fair share of critics appear as of late.

The Phoenix Suns need Deandre Ayton to step up now more than ever. 

The likes of Devin Booker, Cam Johnson, Cam Payne and Chris Paul are out due to injury, with Ayton and Mikal Bridges now the primary two players in Phoenix's lineup responsible for helping push the Suns through these tough times. 

Ayton, Phoenix's one and only No. 1 overall pick, had the opportunity to shoulder the load while his stat backcourt teammates are missing in action. 

Yet Ayton has yet to follow through on that, as his point totals in his last six games are as followed: 11, 14, 23, 15, 12 and 4.

While he has managed double-doubles in his last four games, the bar shouldn't be that low for a man who commanded quite the price tag in restricted free agency prior to the season. 

It's not just the box score fans are unimpressed with:

Deandre Ayton allows Jaden McDaniels to take the ball in for a transition dunk pic.twitter.com/0TRBJZMW2y

— dave (@nbadaves) January 14, 2023

The Suns are currently under .500 and desperately need the help of players such as Ayton in order to keep themselves afloat in the playoff picture. 

Needless to say, fans on social media aren't too confident. 

. @deandreayton pic.twitter.com/AIZqQaSfDt

— LEEZUS (@AndrewLeezus) January 14, 2023

Deandre Ayton wanted to sign with a team last summer that would play through him on offense.

This is what that would have looked like.

— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) January 14, 2023

Ok I’ve reached my breaking point. I can’t take it anymore. I need the Suns to stop forcing me watch Deandre Ayton play basketball immediately

— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) January 14, 2023

The only standard that Deandre Ayton should have ever been held to is the one he set for himself.

And it's certainly fair to point out that he isn't close to that right now.

— David (@theIVpointplay) January 14, 2023

I've been right about Deandre Ayton the whole time pic.twitter.com/z8kwWGadnP

— The Artis formerly known as Gilmore (@SilentWizard65) January 14, 2023

Whatever Deandre Ayton showed up in that first playoffs run is gone lol

The guys talented as hell and built to be a top 3 center in the league, but just does not have the motor or effort required, it seems. https://t.co/D4pDWc1JLx

— Anthony Nash (@_anthonynash) January 14, 2023

Deandre Ayton remains one of the most embarrassing players in the NBA

maybe the most

— Slightly Biased (@BiasedSlightly) January 14, 2023

DeAndre Ayton pouted all summer about not being the guy and now that he's given the chance he's putting up Kendrick Perkins numbers. You can't make this shit up 😭 https://t.co/CXjctosyq7

— K. (@KRswishh) January 14, 2023

The Suns finish up their road trip with a Monday afternoon meeting with the Memphis Grizzlies before returning home for a five-game homestand.