Deandre Ayton has been a volatile presence for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. In the summer of 2025, Ayton agreed to a two-year deal with the Lakers, aiming to be the big man the team had long sought.
Ayton has a history of becoming discouraged when he is not the focal point of his team. His performances this season have reflected that inconsistency: at times he has produced All-Star numbers, while in many games his output has been modest.
Despite those concerns, he remains a starter for the Lakers, and the team’s confidence in him appears to have influenced his outlook. Ayton recently acknowledged a change in perspective while playing in Los Angeles.
Deandre Ayton Embraces Role With the Lakers
Before joining the Lakers, Ayton played for the Portland Trail Blazers, where he was expected to be the franchise centerpiece. That role never materialized due to injuries and inconsistent play.
His desire to be the face of a team stems from his experience with the Phoenix Suns, where he helped Devin Booker and Chris Paul lead the franchise to the NBA Finals in 2021 as a former No. 1 pick. While the run was a significant accomplishment, Ayton expressed frustration that the spotlight was not on him.
Now, Ayton says he has matured and recognizes that he does not need to be the focal point of the Lakers. Instead, he intends to focus on effort and fulfilling his role.
“I just started looking in the mirror and said, ‘Yo bro, you’re not that guy. You don’t need to be on this team doing that at all. This team, you came here to be the effort guy,'” Ayton said (per The Athletic).
Deandre Ayton says he finally realized that he’s not that guy.
“I just started looking in the mirror and said ‘Yo bro,… you’re not that guy. You don’t need to be on this team doing that at all. This team, you came here to be the effort guy.’”
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Last month, Ayton made waves in the headlines after reports surfaced that he was unhappy with his role on the Lakers, saying the team was “trying to make me Clint Capela.”
Capela, known for establishing himself as a rim-running, shot-blocking big man, responded to Ayton’s remarks by pointing out that he plays alongside two of the league’s top playmakers in LeBron James and Luka Dončić and urged him to lock in.
Ayton is averaging 12.5 points and 8.4 rebounds this season. While his production has not fully met expectations for a dominant center, his presence in the paint continues to provide value for the Lakers.
