Deandre Ayton of the Los Angeles Lakers recently opened up about his displeasure with being compared to Clint Capela. After notching 21 points and 13 rebounds in a tough loss to the Orlando Magic, Ayton made it clear to reporters that he felt the comparison was a bit of a jab.
This season, Ayton has displayed his offensive prowess, but questions linger about his defensive consistency. His late-game errors and perceived lack of effort have put him under the spotlight.
The situation took a turn when Clint Capela, the Houston Rockets' standout, responded to Ayton's remarks. Following the Lakers' narrow 110-113 defeat to the Phoenix Suns, where Ayton struggled with just two points and four rebounds, Capela hit back on social media. He posted an Instagram story featuring Ayton's image, saying, “U got 2 of the best floor general in the game, my dawg Lockinnn,” with a touch of humor.
Capela's performance against the Orlando Magic, where the Rockets secured a 113-108 win, highlighted his impact. He contributed four points, six rebounds, three assists, and four blocks, reinforcing why being compared to him should be seen as a compliment.
Ayton began the season with a strong commitment to his role, but his performance has seen some ups and downs. The Lakers, however, are pulling out all the stops to boost his confidence.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, team president Rob Pelinka even presented Ayton with a custom T-shirt featuring a lion’s face merged with Ayton’s. Additionally, the training staff adds a motivational touch by labeling his water bottle as “DA’s Crunk Juice - Drink this to unleash the beast.”
The Lakers are banking on Ayton to deliver size, defense, and rebounding strength. By nurturing his confidence, they hope he fully embraces his role, playing with vigor on both ends of the court to maximize the team's potential and create more opportunities for his teammates.