Key Takeaways
- Deandre Ayton spoke to the media for the first time on Tuesday since joining the Los Angeles Lakers.
- The big man believes he can be a perfect fit alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
- Ayton also opened up on his desire to win a championship and prove himself again in the Association.
Deandre Ayton #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Every week, Mark Medina shares his thoughts and insights on the latest NBA topics for RG. In this installment, Medina gives his perspective on Deandre Ayton joining the Lakers after an underachieving career with Phoenix and Portland.
Standing in front of a Los Angeles Lakers banner, Deandre Ayton smiled as he processed the reality that awaits him.
He will play for the NBA’s most glamorous franchise. He will team up with LeBron James, one of the NBA’s generational stars. He will also suit up with Luka Dončić, another NBA star in his same draft class.
“This feels like a video game,” Ayton said, his eyes beaming. “This is an opportunity I won’t take for granted.”
That statement represents the biggest question mark for Ayton, who signed with the Lakers on a two-year, $16.6 million deal.
Through seven NBA seasons with the Phoenix Suns (2018-23) and Portland Trail Blazers (2023-25), Ayton has already shown he can average a double-double in points (16.4) and rebounds (10.5). The big man has already proven he can excel on a winning team, such as when the Suns advanced to the 2021 NBA Finals. Ayton has already showcased his talent as the No. 1 in the 2018 NBA Draft.
“What’s his name? ‘DominAyton?’” said Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, who also signed with the team this offseason. “He’s a tenacious player. I think he’s going to do the same thing.”
Sure, Ayton has shown he can play as a dominant center. He has yet to show, however, that he can play as a consistent center.
“It fuels me up completely,” Ayton said. “It’s a different type of drive that I’ve been wanting to express for a long time. I think this is the perfect timing, here in the purple and gold. And it’s a platform that I cannot run from. I can show what I really am and just be around some greats to really emphasize that for me as well. It is a lot of fuel in me to prove to the whole world.”
That’s because Ayton has carried a negative reputation about his consistency, his durability and his work habits. He has sparked scrutiny about his professionalism and his willingness to handle tough coaching. That partly explains why Phoenix dealt Ayton to Portland following a second-round loss to Dallas. That partly explains why Portland negotiated a buyout with Ayton amid two rebuilding seasons on a young roster.
So what will it take for Ayton to play to his max potential with the Lakers?
“I’m already here,” Ayton said. “This platform that I’m on, the organization, the team, the coaches, the opportunity that I got, it won’t take nothing. I’m already here. It took its place. I’m already here, talking to you guys and representing the LA Lakers.”
Embracing The Challenge
Representing the Lakers doesn’t simply entail winning the press conference. It entails backing up platitudes with actions. That’s only how the Lakers will evaluate him.
Can Ayton help the Lakers to their 18th NBA championship and their first in six years? Can Ayton become the dominant center on a franchise that became the home of Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal? Will Ayton still understand that LeBron and Doncic will still receive the majority of shots? Can Ayton accept honest feedback from the Lakers’ detail-oriented general manager (Rob Pelinka) and obsessive coach (JJ Redick)?
Ayton used to be a part of winning environment in Phoenix. Then, he sometimes thrived with a pass-first point guard (Chris Paul), versatile shooting guard (Devin Booker) and a demanding head coach (Monty Williams). Sometimes, Ayton chafed at their demanding expectations and became frustrated with limited shot attempts. In Portland, Ayton vowed to become the team’s leader and empower its team’s young players. But he stayed neither durable nor productive enough for the Blazers to believe he could help them rebuild.
“I feel like at the end of the day, I’m on the court and I’m supposed to perform,” Ayton said. “It’s just different routes with organizations, whether you want to win or not. I just took my route where I want to win. When it comes to wins, you play hard when you know everybody goes to win. You do everything you’re supposed to do or can do to win.”
Ayton vowed he will keep that mindset with a Lakers uniform.
Ayton dismissed whether he views himself as part of a “Big Three” with James and Dončić.
“I leave that up to you guys,” Ayton said. “I’m just here to be a part of the puzzle. I’m here to fit in with Luka, JJ and whatever ‘Bron wants me to do.”
Ayton Vows to Help Lakers' Center Situation
Ayton vowed to bring qualities the Lakers lacked after trading to Anthony Davis as part of the Dončić deal with Dallas and becoming exposed in a first-round playoff loss to Minnesota.
“Mainly just protecting that rim as much as possible, closing out possessions and really leading just these things to buckets,” Ayton said. “Every pick-and-roll I set is a strong screen. When I roll to the rim, I’m rolling to the rim aggressively.”
Ayton predicted he will fit in seamlessly with James and Dončić.
“They turn them into superstars, they make them bigger than their roles, they make them very important on the floor,” Ayton said. “Just seeing that and finally getting the chance to go in and experience that would be big for me. Just getting me back to my full form of how I used to play.”
The Lakers will find out next season whether Ayton will experience a career redemption or another setback. Unlike during his introduction press conference, Ayton’s play will do more of the talking.
