Let’s rewind the clock back to last summer.
Deandre Ayton showed up to his Lakers introductory press conference, ecstatic to join the franchise. He spoke about how excited he was to play with Luka Dončić and how he wanted to prove his critics wrong with a bounce-back year in Los Angeles.
Well, the revenge tour was a mixed bag. There were moments of brilliance when Ayton proved to be a productive starting center for the Lakers, but he also struggled and appeared unsatisfied with his role.
But now, the
high-stakes games are here, and after missing the postseason the last few years, Ayton can’t wait for his first playoff run with the Lakers.
“You’re thinking about the environment, you think about the fans, thinking about the first game as a Laker in the playoffs, Ayton said after Wednesday’s Lakers practice. So, I just try to find some time to catch myself and gather and just relax. I’ve been here before, but I am truly excited. I want to do backflips. I’m in the purple and gold, and I just want to really just play hard as hell to contribute to wins.”
What’s become blatantly obvious is that Ayton works best when he is ramped up and inspired. The Lakers have done things to help create this environment for their big, like labeling his water “crunk juice” and wearing t-shirts featuring Ayton as a lion.
It seems he is ready to roar for the Lakers in the postseason and they need him to be the best version of himself now more than ever. LA is shorthanded with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves out and Ayton is exactly the kind of player that can elevate his game to a higher tier than most.
In the 13 games where Ayton scored at least 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, the Lakers went an impressive 12-1. With Lakers head coach JJ Redick stressing the team has to rebound well and limit turnovers, Ayton will be a big reason why they do or do not accomplish that goal.
Ayton was brought here for games like these. If he plays at a high level in the playoffs, all the downs during the regular season will be forgotten and forgiven. This is his chance to make his mark and demonstrate that he can still play at an elite level on basketball’s biggest stage.
Let’s see if he delivers.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
