JJ Redick seems to be running out of patience with Deandre Ayton. The Los Angeles Lakers head coach publicly questioned his starting center’s approach following a brutal 123-87 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
Redick and Lakers fans saw their shorthanded squad’s late-season slide continue while relying on a patchwork frontcourt to close the game.
Deandre Ayton’s Disappearing Act Is Costing the Lakers
The 36-point defeat to the Thunder marked the third consecutive loss for a Lakers franchise dealing with multiple health setbacks. For context, Los Angeles was missing Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes, Marcus Smart, and LeBron James.
When questioned about Ayton’s lack of influence on the offense, Redick didn’t bother with coach speak during his postgame availability. He directly highlighted the former No. 1 pick’s struggles handling passes.
“He’s had trouble catching the ball,” Redick said. “So, we’ve run a bunch of plays for him. He’s just had trouble catching the ball, and I don’t know if that’s the passing or if it’s him trying to get position. He just hasn’t been able to catch the ball.”
JJ Redick on Ayton 😬:
“He’s had trouble catching the ball, so we’ve ran a bunch of plays for him, he’s just had trouble catching the ball and idk if it’s the passing or if it’s him trying to get into position, he just hasn’t been able to catch the ball” pic.twitter.com/OTaT0MBjzF
— BronMuse (@BronMuse) April 8, 2026
Ayton finished the game with a disappointing stat line of 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block across 23 minutes of playing time. He went 1-for-4 from the field and is now averaging 12.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 0.8 assists through 69 appearances.
In contrast to the Lakers’ severely undermanned roster, Oklahoma City arrived at Crypto.com Arena boasting a league-best 62-16 record and a dynamic, switch-heavy defense.
In a matchup built for a traditional center to dominate the paint, absorb contact, and pace the offense, OKC established its physical presence from the get-go.
DON’T MISS: NBA Analyst Accuses LeBron James of Ducking Thunder Rematch Amid Lakers’ Injury Woes
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander aggressively attacked the rim. He dismantled the Lakers’ defense with a game-high 25 points and 8 assists on an efficient 10-for-15 shooting, carrying the offensive load with ease. Isaiah Joe recorded 18 points, draining 6 3-pointers to help build an insurmountable lead.
For the offensively lackluster Lakers, however, it was one frustrating moment after another.
Besides Ayton’s poor showing, Redick pulled Jarred Vanderbilt just 16 seconds into the second quarter, leading to a heated sideline exchange between the two.
Currently navigating a catastrophic bout of injuries and poor center production, the Lakers sit fourth in the Western Conference (50-29) with just three games remaining, in danger of losing home-court advantage for Round 1 of the playoffs.
