Devin Booker is set to go up against his former Phoenix Suns teammate, Deandre Ayton, and his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s been two years since the two were teammates, and four years since they led the Suns to the NBA Finals.
Ayton and the Lakers will likely be among the Suns’ stiffest competition for one of the last playoff spots in the Western Conference. The former Sun could be a game-changer for the Lakers’ playoff chances, but that will be only on paper until further notice.
Why Was Devin Booker Cautious in His Opinion on Deandre Ayton’s Lakers Stint?
Ahead of the Suns-Lakers game, Booker was asked what he thought of Ayton’s role on the Lakers. Booker didn’t have much to say on the matter.
“I mean, I guess we’ll just have to see,” Booker said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Devin Booker when asked what his former teammate, Deandre Ayton, cam bring to this year’s Lakers team: “I mean, I guess we’ll just have to see” pic.twitter.com/WgtwUnVCu0
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 3, 2025
Booker and Ayton haven’t played together since 2023, and Ayton didn’t exactly leave the Suns on the best of terms. Because of that, Booker doesn’t have to have an opinion on the matter.
More than that, though, Ayton hasn’t been much of an effective player since 2022. After being one of the Suns’ best players on their last NBA Finals run, he simply hasn’t played at the same level for the last few years.
Ayton played at his best when he played next to an elite playmaker like he did with Chris Paul. Over his first five NBA seasons with the Suns, Ayton averaged 16.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game. He was also instrumental in Phoenix reaching the NBA Finals in 2021, averaging 15.8 points and 11.8 rebounds in 22 playoff games.
With the Lakers, he’s playing next to two of them with LeBron James and Luka Dončić. It could work out splendidly on paper for him and the Lakers, but he’ll have to show it.
If he does, the Lakers’ outlook could change drastically. If Ayton looks like the player who played a huge hand in the Suns coming within two games of winning a title, the Lakers are in pretty good hands.
Notably, Ayton has averaged a double-double in each of his seven NBA seasons, but his availability has been an issue. He has appeared in 70 or more games in a season only once in his career and has played fewer than 60 games in four seasons. Alongside, there have been reports of behavioral issues.
According to Jason Quick of The Athletic, team sources revealed that Ayton was occasionally late for team flights and practices, skipping rehab appointments and throwing “tantrums” in the locker room after getting benched.
This led the Blazers to buy out the remainder of his contract in July, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Blazers were among the NBA’s worst teams when Ayton was there. They won only 21 games in 2023-24 and 36 games last season.
All these probably made Booker reserved about his reply. However, after joining the Lakers, Ayton has repeatedly stated that he is eager to mend his image and justify the talent that once made him the No. 1 overall pick.
