Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton one-handed dunk off dribble highlight in Team Bahamas win over Cuba

Phoenix Suns big man Deandre Ayton has been saying for years he's working on his handles, but rarely has put it on the deck in his five NBA seasons.

Then came Monday night in Argentina.

Playing for Team Bahamas in an Olympic pre-qualifying tournament, Ayton drove right from the 3-point line past a defender, took two dribbles and finished on the other side of the rim one-handed against Cuba.

Ouch.

That was part of his 22-point, 10-rebound effort in leading the Bahamas to a 109-68 drumming of Cuba in pool play in Argentina.

"It felt amazing," said Ayton on representing his native Bahamas. "It felt fun. Truly emotional feeling. Just having so many Bahamian guys, so many great players just following the same goal, chasing the same goal and understanding the opportunity that we have. This is a big deal. It's only us out here and we go as far as we take each other. It's truly a blessing and a honor to put that Bahamas across your chest and know that you're representing your country."

Ayton's new teammate, Eric Gordon, scored 17 points, hitting 4-of-7 from 3.

"Definitely lit," Ayton on playing with Gordon. "Definitely something that you never thought would happen. He's such a great player as well. Just having a feel for his game before we both hit training camp and start fighting each other to figure out some type of chemistry. I'm glad we're handling that early. Just us trying to make some history now to make the Olympics is truly something special."

The Bahamas have never made the Olympic games in men's basketball.

Pacers guard Buddy Hield went for a game-high 24 points. Hield, Gordon and Ayton nearly outscored Cuba by themselves in racking up 63 total points.

The Bahamas will have a much tougher test Wednesday against Argentina in pool play, but opened the pre-qualifying tournament with Ayton shooting 10-of-14 from the field and showing some ball handling skills.

"Basketball becomes easy, especially when you have the big fella," Hield said. "His talent is unmatched. It's something you can't teach. It's something every player wants to play with. He makes the game so easy for everybody."

In the first quarter, Ayton drove from the top of the key for a one-handed dunk.

Granted it wasn't against NBA competition, but that first-quarter drive and the fourth-quarter move and finish were two plays Ayton hasn't made in the NBA.

Gordon showed the ability to catch-and-shoot from 3 multiple times, but also scored off the dribble as well as found Ayton for a two-handed dunk on a drive-and-draw play.

"He's going to be a threat," said Gordon when asked about Ayton. "So we needed to use him as much as possible. When he gets double-teamed, that's when you got guys like me to space the floor."

The games can be seen on www.courtside1891.basketball, but there is a $19.99 fee to watch all the games available that include pre-qualifying tournaments, the 2023 World Cup and FIBA action.

The Bahamas are looking to win the Olympic pre-qualifying tournament to advance to next year’s FIBA Olympic qualifying tournaments July 2-7, 2024 with the winners of those tournaments earning a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

"I'm here to try to get this team to the Olympics," Gordon said. "That's the main goal. Can't be satisfied about one win and we're going to look forward to winning more and more games."

The Suns will open preseason play Oct. 8 on the road against the Detroit Pistons. Monty Williams was fired after the 2022-23 season that ended with Phoenix losing to eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the second round.

The Pistons hired Williams, signing him to a six-year, $78.5-million contract to make him the highest-paid coach in NBA history.

The Suns then face the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Oct. 10 at Footprint Center. They have two games against Portland home and away and conclude preseason action against the Los Angeles Lakers in Palm Springs.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns big Deandre Ayton posts 22 and 10 in leading Team Bahamas past Cuba