The spotlight on Deandre Ayton in Los Angeles is getting hotter-and not for the right reasons. What was supposed to be a stabilizing presence at the center position for the Lakers has turned into a growing concern, especially as the team tries to find some consistency in a season where every game matters. The numbers aren’t helping his case, and neither is the body language.
It all came to a head recently when cameras caught LeBron James giving Ayton a long, pointed stare during a loss to the Kings. It wasn’t subtle.
And it didn’t take long for fans and analysts to start connecting dots-questioning effort, energy, and engagement. Then came Kendrick Perkins, who didn’t hold back on the Road Trippin’ podcast.
“He does nothing athletically,” Perkins 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’s not just criticism-that’s a red flag from someone who’s been around the league and knows what effort looks like. Perkins’ comments came after another underwhelming performance from Ayton, this time in a loss to the Clippers.
Four points. Five rebounds.
And benched for the final 19 minutes of the game. That’s not what you expect from your starting center, especially not on a team with playoff aspirations and a ticking clock tied to LeBron’s window.
But this isn’t about one game. Ayton’s season averages-13.7 points and 8.7 rebounds-are career lows.
And while those numbers might look decent on paper, they don’t tell the full story. The real issue is presence.
Impact. Energy.
The things that don’t always show up in the box score but are impossible to miss when they’re absent.
Low-motor critiques have followed Ayton since his early days in the league, but they’re getting louder now because the stakes are higher. The Lakers aren’t just looking for stats-they’re looking for someone to anchor the paint, protect the rim, and bring some fire to a frontcourt that’s been inconsistent all season. That’s not happening right now.
Perkins also hinted at something deeper-chemistry. The kind of locker room unease that can bubble up when a player’s effort doesn’t match the team’s expectations. And in a league where reputations shape roles, Ayton’s current trajectory could start to impact how teams view him moving forward, especially in high-stakes situations.
The Lakers don’t have the luxury of waiting this out. They need answers, and they need them soon.
Whether Ayton can flip the switch and bring the kind of energy this team needs remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: this stretch could be pivotal.
Either he reclaims his role and proves he can be a dependable piece in a playoff push-or he risks fading deeper into the rotation.
The ball’s in his court now.