Deandre Ayton is making it clear: he's not here to chase stats or prove a point-he’s here to win. And on Sunday night, in a dominant Los Angeles Lakers victory over the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans, Ayton showed once again why he’s quickly becoming one of the most important pieces on this revamped Lakers squad.
Ayton finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks, all while shooting a blistering 7-of-9 from the field and hitting all eight of his free throws. He was a force on both ends, patrolling the paint with purpose and playing with a level of efficiency and focus that the Lakers have been craving from the center position for years.
Yes, the Pelicans were missing key starters, but the Lakers didn’t let that become a trap game. They handled business with the kind of professionalism and intensity that championship-caliber teams are supposed to bring. And at the center of that effort-literally and figuratively-was Ayton.
There was a brief scare in the fourth quarter when Ayton banged knees with rookie Derik Queen and hobbled off. The extent of the injury is still unknown, but make no mistake: the Lakers need Ayton healthy. He’s become a foundational piece of what they’re building.
Coming into the season, there were questions about whether Ayton could truly embrace a complementary role alongside stars like Luka Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. Would he try to reclaim his "DominAyton" nickname and demand touches? Would he buy into being a rim-running, shot-blocking, glass-cleaning anchor?
So far, he’s answered those questions with authority.
Ayton is shooting over 70 percent from the field-by far the best mark of his career-and he’s blocking shots at a rate we haven’t seen from him since 2021. He’s not forcing anything. He’s thriving in the flow of the offense, finishing plays rather than trying to create them, and anchoring a defense that’s quietly become one of the league’s most reliable units.
The Lakers have now rattled off seven straight wins and sit at 15-4 through their first 19 games. That’s not a fluke. This team looks like a legitimate title contender, and Ayton’s presence in the middle is a huge reason why.
After the Luka trade, there was a clear need for a rim protector and interior presence-someone who could do the dirty work, set hard screens, roll hard to the rim, and clean the glass. Ayton has stepped into that role seamlessly. He’s not just filling a gap-he’s elevating the Lakers.
It’s worth remembering that Ayton was the starting center on a Suns team that made the NBA Finals in 2021 and reached the playoffs three straight years. He knows what winning basketball looks like.
He’s been there. And now, he’s bringing that experience and hunger to a Lakers team that’s loaded with star power but needed someone to do the little things that often separate contenders from pretenders.
He also understood what this opportunity would require. Playing next to Luka, LeBron, and Reaves means fewer touches, fewer plays drawn up for him, and more time doing the dirty work.
But Ayton hasn’t just accepted that-he’s embraced it. And in doing so, he’s become the piece that makes this whole thing work.
The Lakers were fortunate to land Ayton after his buyout from Portland. It’s the kind of move that can quietly swing a season.
LeBron has been vocal for years about wanting a true big man to anchor the defense. It took Luka’s arrival to finally make that happen, but Ayton is proving every night why that was the right call.
He’s not chasing headlines. He’s chasing wins. And in Los Angeles, that’s exactly what they need.