The Los Angeles Lakers entered this season haunted by the memory of their shortcomings in the 2024-25 campaign. After a first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, many pointed to the weakness at the center position as a primary reason for their early exit.
Determined not to repeat history, the Lakers’ front office signed former Portland Trail Blazers big man Deandre Ayton to a two-year, $16.6 million contract. The move instantly raised expectations, but in his preseason debut, Ayton offered a glimpse into his game plan that wasn’t what anyone expected.
What Is Ayton’s New Defensive-First Mindset?
On October 3, the Lakers opened their preseason against Ayton’s former team, the Phoenix Suns, falling 103–81. While the scoreboard didn’t tilt in Los Angeles’ favor, the bigger story was Ayton’s postgame message. He clarified that his focus this year is defense, not personal scoring.
“I wanted to show the team I’m more committed on the defensive end, more than the offense … I’m not here for numbers. I’m just here for whatever the Lakers really want me to do,” said Ayton during the postgame interview.
Most Lakers supporters had hoped to see flashes of Ayton’s offensive arsenal, including his mid-range jumper, rim rolls, and post touches. Instead, the 27-year-old center leaned heavily into his new identity. In 18 minutes, Ayton scored just one point and missed both field-goal attempts.
However, the box score told a different story about his priorities. He pulled down eight rebounds, blocked two shots, and added a steal, constantly directing traffic on defense and hustling for loose balls. His four turnovers showed he’s still adjusting to head coach JJ Redick’s system, but the energy he brought reflected a player committed to anchoring the defense rather than chasing buckets.
How Did the Rest of the Team Fare in the Opener?
Still, Ayton’s debut wasn’t without its awkward moments. Early in the first quarter, he missed a simple hook shot over Suns forward Oso Ighodaro. From the sidelines, Devin Booker, his former teammate in Phoenix, couldn’t resist a jab. He yelled and pointed out the miscue in a way only a longtime teammate could.
The Lakers struggled throughout the contest. They trailed by 15 points at the end of the first quarter and were still down 13 heading into halftime. The situation unraveled further in the third quarter as Phoenix stretched its lead to as many as 27 points, effectively putting the game out of reach. Although Los Angeles showed a late spark by adding 19 points in the fourth quarter, it wasn’t enough to erase the damage.
Notably, stars like LeBron James and Luka Dončić were absent, a common occurrence for preseason contests. That left the door wide open for Ayton to stamp his presence on the game. Instead, the performance was more about effort plays and defensive communication than eye-catching scoring. Now, the Lakers will get another look at their new center when they face the Golden State Warriors on October 5.
