Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton addressed on Apr. 10 how head coach JJ Redick’s direct feedback has influenced his performance, following the team’s victory over the Golden State Warriors. With leading scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined due to injury, Ayton was expected to take on a larger offensive role but initially struggled in early games.
Ayton improved significantly during Thursday night’s game, scoring 21 points on nine-of-eleven shooting from the field. He said he recognizes when Redick calls him out and understands that his energy can impact the entire team. “I feel like when I’m not doing what I’m supposed to do, it’s contagious,” Ayton said on Amazon Prime after the game. “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 too. I take pride in that, just trying my best to just make that a part of me just by adding it and reinventing myself throughout the season.”
Redick praised Ayton’s performance following the win, highlighting his strong play in the third quarter as crucial for pulling away from Golden State. “He played fantastic. The third quarter he was just dominant,” Redick said on Spectrum SportsNet. “A lot of that was very targeted because we were playing through the post and Draymond was going to overhelp and DA had his proper spacing. That touch shot for him at 8-10 feet, it’s just a high efficiency shot for him. I thought he played fantastic throughout the game, but the third quarter he was dominant for us.”
Ayton scored 12 of his total points during that period as Los Angeles increased its lead in a must-win situation with playoffs approaching.
Veteran Luke Kennard also spoke about how injuries have forced players into new roles this season but emphasized maintaining a next man up mentality so the team continues competing hard.
With several key players injured heading into postseason play, contributions from athletes like Ayton are seen as vital for any continued success.