Deandre Ayton found himself at the center of a very difficult conversation after the Los Angeles Lakers’ blowout 123-87 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in front of the home crowd on April 7.
With the regular season closing in and the playoffs set to commence on April 18, the timing of such a collapse couldn’t have been worse for a legendary franchise. When it came to pinpointing mistakes, head coach JJ Redick didn’t shy away. During the postgame, Redick didn’t hold back and called out Ayton for his lack of effort and “trouble catching the ball” as the major hurdles for a team’s starting center.
Deandre Ayton Clears the Air After JJ Redick Publicly Calls Him Out
After being called out by Redick for “having trouble catching the ball” despite the staff running “a bunch of plays for him,” Ayton addressed the criticism during a postgame interview following the Lakers’ 119-103 victory over the Warriors (37-43).
“I feel like when I’m not doing what I’m supposed to do, it’s contagious in a way,” said Ayton. “I’m hard on myself, especially when JJ is upset, because when it comes to that effort on multiple plays, I’m one of those guys he is definitely talking to. I take pride in that. I’m just trying my best to make that a part of me.”
Deandre Ayton on how he handles JJ Redick calling out the teams effort in losses:
“I feel like when i’m not doing what i’m supposed to do, it’s contagious. I be hard on myself especially when JJ is upset because when it comes to that effort on multiple plays, i’m one of those… pic.twitter.com/UJrIiCp03P
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) April 10, 2026
In the 2025-26 season, the Lakers faced the reigning champions 4 times and lost each game. The latest loss came on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena, when the Thunder went home with a statement 123-87 win, similar to their 139-96 win last week.
With this loss, the Lakers dropped three consecutive games, making fans miss Luka Dončić (33.5 PPG) and Austin Reaves (23.3 PPG), who are currently sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and an oblique injury, even more.
Ayton played for 23 minutes against OKC and had only 3 points, 3 rebounds, and no assists on 1-of-4 shooting from the field. He has been vocal about the lack of exposure and the limited offensive role, and how the Lakers have tried to fit him into a Clint Capela-like role. But when the stakes were high and the stage was set, he delivered an underwhelming performance.
After a contract buyout with the Trail Blazers in June 2025 due to inconsistency and injury, Ayton expected a better season with the Lakers. However, it seems like the ghosts from the past are not ready to leave him.
In the Lakers’ latest game against the Warriors, Ayton spent 31 minutes on the court and dropped 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist while shooting 9-of-11 from the field, providing him with a big boost of confidence amidst a struggling season.
He’s currently averaging 12.4 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 67.2% (2nd). As the LA Lakers (51-29) prepare for the postseason, the focus will remain on whether Ayton can live up to the expectations placed on him, delivering a defensive presence and rim protection.
