Phoenix Suns

Report: Frank Vogel loves Deandre Ayton, who reminds him of a more skilled Roy Hibbert

Published by
Brad Sullivan

New Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel reportedly is a big fan of the team’s starting center, Deandre Ayton, and sees shades of former Indiana Pacers star Roy Hibbert in the 24-year-old.

The Suns are Vogel’s fourth NBA team after he he was head coach for the Pacers, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.

Vogel took over the Pacers for the final 38 games of the 2010-11 season and helped them reach the playoffs.

Over the next five seasons, Vogel remained head coach of the Pacers, a stretch that included a pair of trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014.

That success was driven in part by Hibbert’s talents on the court. Those abilities included relatively modest scoring prowess, solid rebounding skills and shot-blocking excellence.

By comparing Ayton to Hibbert, Vogel may be attempting to bond with one of the Suns’ top players and get beyond the turmoil of the past.

That turmoil was fueled by the contentious relationship between Ayton and former Suns head coach Monty Williams. During their time together, controversy seemed to be a regular feature before Williams was dismissed by the team last month.

During the 2022-23 regular season, the Suns managed to only win 45 games after having won 64 the season before and reaching the NBA Finals in 2021. Their most recent campaign and Williams’ tenure came to an end in a six-game, second-round playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets.

After the season ended, Ayton’s name started gaining some steam in trade rumors, but he’s still with the organization today.

Though Vogel was unable to bring an NBA title to either the Pacers or Magic, he was on the sidelines in 2020 when the Lakers won their first championship in a decade. In that instance, the title was captured in the unprecedented surroundings of the pandemic-caused bubble in Orlando, Fla.

Vogel will have plenty of talent at his disposal with the Suns. With the recent addition of guard Bradley Beal, the pressure will immediately be on the new head coach to deliver the Suns’ first NBA title.

If Vogel does manage to connect with Ayton, the chances of a championship figure to improve.

Brad Sullivan

Brad has written on a variety of both NBA and NFL topics and has worked previously as a sports information director at the collegiate level. A lifetime fan of sports, he's witnessed countless great moments in different sports and understands that stories can be compelling from both the perspective of winners and losers. As a frustrated fan of Cleveland sports, he experienced something unprecedented when the Cavaliers won the city's first championship in 52 years.

Published by
Brad Sullivan

Recent Posts

Chandler Parsons: Jaylen Brown would be best player on over half of NBA teams, including some playoff teams

The Boston Celtics were without maybe their top player for Wednesday's Game 2 versus the…

3 hours ago

‘Spo gonna Spo’: Cavs player gives Erik Spoelstra his flowers after Heat’s near-upset in Game 2

The odds were stacked against the Miami Heat to pick up a win in Game…

3 hours ago

Report: Will Campbell landing with Patriots may depend on whether team gets ‘fair deal’ to trade down

As a consolation prize for a woeful 2024 season that was marred by losing, the…

5 hours ago

Report: ‘Most of the league’ has been contacted about Jalen Ramsey, including Rams, Lions and Eagles

Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey is one of the more notable players in the league…

6 hours ago

Report: Rival teams project Blazers as team to monitor for potential trades this offseason

The Portland Trail Blazers are watching the 2025 NBA Playoffs from home after they finished…

17 hours ago

NFC executive praises Shedeur Sanders’ ability to make difficult throws: ‘He’s got probably the best collection of those’

Former University of Colorado Boulder star quarterback Shedeur Sanders is projected by some to be…

17 hours ago