“If you’re gonna take a risk, it’s going to be on a player who has all of the things you need in the skillset. But like you said, maybe there are certainly very relevant and locker room and all those types of concerns” said ‘Locked on Warriors’ host Kylen Mills on Deandre Ayton. The Los Angeles Lakers’ newest acquisition to fill the Center position has been receiving mixed reactions since Shams Charania first broke the news. Some claimed he addressed what the Lakers needed, while others referred to the two years he spent with the Portland Trail Blazers to cast doubt on not only his production but also his willingness to give his best effort.

After days of anticipation, Deandre Ayton finally participated in his first press conference as a Laker. During the same, he was asked if he had heard criticism of his play over the past few years. This was especially true during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, when his average scoring dropped even lower than it already was. Ayton replied, “Most definitely. It fuels me. It fuels me up completely. And 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.”

The Athletic’s Jason Quick had given a rundown of several issues that had arisen during Ayton’s time with the Blazers. It included everything from “the tardiness to team flights and practices”, “the skipping of rehabilitation appointments”, slamming chairs when he was taken out of games in full view of fans, and throwing tantrums in the locker room after getting sidelined for “poor effort”. Furthermore, even after 7 years in the league, Deandre Ayton hasn’t had any All-Star Games on his resume. Not something you wish to see from the 1st overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. The same draft that took in other star players like Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, etc, at lower positions than him.

At the same time, there is still some hope for the Center. He will be turning 27 in the coming weeks, meaning he still has time to grow and mature. The 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists he averaged weren’t all bad, but he still needs room to improve. That is what Ayton is looking to focus on with his new team, as he has already had conversations with JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka about next steps.

“Mainly just protecting that rim as much as possible, closing out possessions and really leading just these things to buckets,” said Ayton when highlighting his eagerness to show that he knows where to best focus his energy. “Every pick-and-roll I set is a strong screen. When I roll to the rim, I’m rolling to the rim aggressively. Just really emphasizing the thing that the team wants. That’s my role in just really playing hard at it.”

Who knows, maybe the player will find the atmosphere with the Los Angeles Lakers better than with the Portland Trail Blazers. While we don’t know yet how well he will adjust, we know that he is already excited to team up with one star player from the squad.

Deandre Ayton highlights being “happy” at being Luka Doncic’s teammate: “an opportunity that I won’t take for granted”

While Deandre Ayton struggled to find stardom-level success over the last 7 years, the player selected just 2 spots below him in the 2018 NBA Draft had the opposite effect. Over the last 7 years, Luka Doncic established himself as one of the best players in the modern NBA by winning 5× NBA All-Star honors, 5× All-NBA First Team, the scoring champion title in 2024, and his efforts in taking the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals, for the first time in 13 years, back in 2024. Now, the Slovenian looks to establish a new chapter in his legacy with the Lakers. Deandre Ayton is simply glad to have this draft class player on his side.

During the same presser, Ayton highlighted being amazed when he was first introduced to Doncic as a Laker. He revealed, “This feels like a video game, like somebody set it up. This is an opportunity that I won’t take for granted. Luka is a once-in-a-generation player, and I’m happy to be his teammate. Hearing about the kind of shape he’s been in, he’s super ripped, and I’m finally glad to be on his side.”

Deandre Ayton has faced his fair share of criticism, but so has Luka Doncic. In fact, according to reports, his shocking trade back in February was fuelled by several reasons, one of which was the player’s alleged “lazy” attitude, and his “weight issues” that were a “frequent frustration” within the Mavs’ walls. ‘The Athletic’s Sam Amick also admitted that the player had “a taste for beer and hookah — which have been a point of concern for NBA types since he was a 19-year-old star for Real Madrid who was entering the NBA Draft.

According to recent reports, however, Luka Doncic has prioritized conditioning and a training regime that includes both guided indoor conditioning and a modified diet. His recent public appearances showed him having slimmed down well. Therefore, anyone would feel honored to partner up with a powerhouse like Doncic in peak condition.

Two players who will be going out to prove their critics wrong. United behind this purpose, it remains to be seen just how the Lakers will fare, with Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic, in the coming season.