Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton stirred controversy this week with his locker room comments, claiming that his team is “trying to make me Clint Capela.” The remark drew attention and elicited a playful response from Capela himself, who is the center for the Houston Rockets.
On Thursday night, shortly after Ayton’s comments became public, Capela took to his Instagram story to respond. He shared an ESPN post featuring Ayton’s remarks along with a cheeky caption: “U got 2 of the best floor general in the game my dawg Lockinnn,” accompanied by two laughing emojis. Capela’s playful banter came around the same time as the Lakers faced off against the Suns, where they suffered a last-minute loss, 113-110, thanks to a 3-pointer by Phoenix’s Royce O’Neale.
Ayton’s performance in the game did not help his case, as he finished with a disappointing 2 points and 4 rebounds in 23 minutes of play. This followed his earlier declaration that he was “Not no Clint Capela,” hinting at his desire to be viewed in a different light. The Lakers’ defeat marked their third straight loss, further fueling discussions about Ayton’s role and performance as a former No. 1 overall pick.
The back-and-forth between Ayton and Capela highlights the competitive nature of the NBA, showcasing how comments intended for a lighthearted conversation can spark intrigue and conversation among players and fans alike. As the season progresses, fans will be keeping a close eye on Ayton’s development and whether he can bounce back from this challenging stretch with the Lakers.