Deandre Ayton’s recent comments certainly added some spice to Thursday night’s showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. After the Lakers' tough loss to the Orlando Magic, Ayton made headlines with a remark that seemed to take a jab at Houston Rockets center Clint Capela.
“They're trying to make me Clint Capela," Ayton shared with ESPN. "I'm not no Clint Capela!"
This statement quickly went viral, setting the stage for the Suns-Lakers clash. Unfortunately for Ayton, his performance didn’t back up his words, leading to a wave of reactions from NBA fans.
Fans were quick to voice their opinions on Ayton’s challenging night:
- @TBExceed commented, "Clint Capela clears this fraud."
- @mtpluggrinder questioned, "Genuinely what is this guy's problem?"
- @jamestheg3 simply stated, "Terrible."
- @danhurleyuconn added, "Not even as good as 2026 Capela."
- @SeeMeInShadow humorously noted, "Ran out of crunk juice."
Ayton, who started and played 23 minutes against the Suns, struggled to find his rhythm. He was the only starter who didn’t hit double digits in scoring, managing just two points on 1-3 shooting. He also grabbed four rebounds and recorded a steal.
This season has been a bit of a downer for Ayton, statistically speaking. In 49 games with the Lakers, he’s averaging 16.1 points and 8.5 rebounds, slightly below his career averages of 16.1 points and 10.3 rebounds. Despite being a consistent starter over his eight-year career with three different teams, Ayton often finds himself falling short of the lofty expectations set for a former first-overall pick.
Ayton will have a chance to bounce back and silence the critics when the Lakers hit the road for their next game on Saturday, February 28.