The Los Angeles Lakers had been searching for a reliable starting center for quite some time, and when they signed Deandre Ayton this offseason, it initially seemed like they might have missed the mark. Ayton struggled to make an impact in his first two starts, raising early doubts about the move.
But on a night when the Lakers were without both LeBron James and Luka Dončić, the big man silenced critics with a dominant performance, helping the Lakers win 127-120 and earning high praise from a former NBA champion.
Former NBA Champion Applauds Deandre Ayton’s Breakout Game for the Lakers
Ayton made his Lakers debut against the Golden State Warriors, but managed just 10 points, six rebounds, and zero assists in 34 minutes. Fans, already skeptical of the signing, were quick to voice their frustration on social media, and after another underwhelming outing against the Timberwolves, some were even calling for the team to move on from him.
But on Sunday night, Ayton silenced his critics. With both James and Dončić sidelined, the 27-year-old center delivered his best performance in purple and gold, finishing with 22 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in the Lakers’ 127-120 win over the Kings.
Former NBA champion and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins was impressed with Ayton’s performance and wrote on X, “Btw Ayton played like a grown a** man tonight!!!”
Btw Ayton played like a grown ass man tonight!!!
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) October 27, 2025
As it turns out, the criticism over the past few games may have been exactly what Ayton needed. Speaking after the win, he admitted that the noise only motivates him more.
“They be trying to get me ticked off before these games, just to get me rolling. … This is a thing y’all want to do. Y’all want me fired up. I like it. … They always messing with me, just talking to me. … It’s just trolling. They love my reactions over there. I be caught off guard with some of them. But I love it, man, trust me. It’s just making me play hard when it counts now,” Ayton said in his postgame presser, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
“They be trying to get me ticked off before these games, just to get me rolling.” Deandre Ayton, after putting up 22 pts and 15 reb against the Kings, explains how his teammates sometimes “troll” him to get him riled up. He says it helps him perform better and it shows they care. pic.twitter.com/5gxvDmaTMB
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 27, 2025
Ayton, a former No. 1 pick, joined the Lakers this offseason following a turbulent stint with the Portland Trail Blazers. He reportedly pushed for a buyout that saw him give up $10 million of the $35 million remaining on his deal. The Lakers, who had initially targeted Brook Lopez and Clint Capela, pivoted to Ayton and signed him to a two-year, $16.2 million contract.
For now, that gamble appears to be paying off. If Ayton, who’s had issues with consistency through the years, can continue to play with the same energy and edge he showed against Sacramento, he could finally tap back into his All-Star potential and give the Lakers the interior presence they’ve long been searching for.
