The conversation around Deandre Ayton in Los Angeles is heating up - and not in the way the Lakers had hoped. Brought in with the expectation of bringing size, stability, and presence to the middle, Ayton has instead become a focal point of growing frustration, both inside and outside the locker room. In a season where the margin for error is razor-thin and every game matters, questions about effort and impact are starting to drown out any talk of potential.
The noise hit a new level after a recent loss to the Kings, when cameras caught LeBron James giving Ayton a long, pointed stare - the kind of look that says more than words ever could. Fans didn’t miss it.
Neither did the media. And then Kendrick Perkins added fuel to the fire.
Speaking on Road Trippin’, Perkins didn’t hold back. “He does nothing athletically,” he said.
“He’s not going to lunge for basketballs. He’s not going to make the extra effort.
Like, I just don’t get it. Sooner or later, if I’m beefing with 10 people, and 10 people have a problem with me - it ain’t the 10 people’s damn problem.
Sooner or later, I’ve got to go check myself.”
That kind of blunt criticism might sting, but it came on the heels of another underwhelming performance. In a loss to the Clippers, Ayton finished with just four points and five rebounds.
He didn’t see the floor for the final 19 minutes of the game, as the Lakers fell 112-104. That’s not just a quiet night - that’s a red flag for a team that needs every ounce of production from its big men.
Ayton’s season averages - 13.7 points and 8.7 rebounds - are career lows, and they don’t reflect the kind of impact the Lakers were banking on when they brought him in. This isn’t just about numbers, though.
It’s about energy. It’s about presence.
It’s about doing the little things that don’t always show up in the box score but make a difference when the game is on the line.
The concerns about Ayton’s motor aren’t new. But they’re louder now, and they’re coming from all directions. Perkins pointed to past chemistry issues and warned that continued passivity could reshape how the league views Ayton - not just as a player, but as a piece you can count on when the lights are brightest.
For the Lakers, this isn’t just a storyline - it’s a real problem. They need consistency at the five.
They need someone who can control the paint, finish plays, and bring energy on both ends of the floor. Ayton has the tools.
He’s always had the tools. But right now, the question isn’t about talent.
It’s about urgency.
The pressure is mounting. The voices are getting louder. And how Ayton responds in the coming weeks could determine not just his role in L.A., but his standing across the league.