Deandre Ayton said on Mar. 18 that he is now fully committed to his role with the Los Angeles Lakers, following a period of self-reflection and adjustment during the team’s recent win streak.
Ayton’s evolving approach comes as the Lakers prepare for the playoffs, with the center acknowledging both his earlier frustrations about his role and his renewed focus on defense and rebounding. This shift in mindset could have significant implications for the team’s performance as they seek to maximize their potential in upcoming games.
Speaking to The Athletic, Ayton addressed previous comments about not wanting a limited role similar to Clint Capela’s but explained how he has since embraced what the team needs from him. “That’s a fact. That is a true fact,” Ayton told The Athletic Monday about scoring. “But me, I scratched that, I took that out. I said … when it comes to scoring, we don’t need that. We need you to put that energy what you have for offense and into defense.
“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 and close out possessions, rebound. Run the damn floor hard as hell, make bigs work, make superstars work.
“And I’m having fun with it, I’m not gonna lie.” He added that head coach JJ Redick has emphasized a playoff atmosphere within the team: “JJ’s been instilling to us that this is a playoff atmosphere, and we fighting for a playoff position,” Ayton said. “You can tell LeBron’s been locked in, Luka — everybody’s been completely locked in, and I’m just tired of being the odd man out… Team’s been there; it’s just been me.”
Ayton also commented on adapting to fewer minutes during certain matchups but stressed his commitment: “I’ve completely … I bought in. Completely, like 110 percent. I hope you see the work.” His recent performances have drawn praise from both Redick and LeBron James after key plays against Houston Rockets center Clint Capela.
As Ayton continues to focus on defense and rebounding rather than scoring, observers will watch whether this new approach helps elevate the Lakers’ prospects heading into postseason play.
