LOS ANGELES — Deandre Ayton sat quietly at his corner locker following Friday night’s game, overshadowed by a dark towel. Reflecting on a key play where he set a screen for Luka Dončić but missed a dunk, he soon lifted the towel, his expression transformed.
“I told Luka, I said, ‘Yo bro, you have power.’ Like I’ve seen true power today,” Ayton recounted to The Athletic. “Like I saw four dudes on him. Bro, I set the screen, and it was like they had to bring four. What the f—?”
Though Ayton’s excitement might have spiked his use of language, the sentiment was understandable. This play encapsulated a hopeful atmosphere in the locker room, as players felt this year’s roster could exceed the potential of last season’s team.
On a night when Dončić put up an impressive 49 points, the highlight for many was an intricate pick-and-roll. During the third quarter, Ayton’s timing shone through as he set a high screen for Dončić, who handled a double team. Dončić skillfully passed to Austin Reaves while Ayton rolled toward the basket. Despite missing the dunk attempt, Ayton’s effort brought immediate reactions from his teammates, with Reaves and Dončić celebrating his aggressive move.
“We loved it,” Dončić commented, praising the execution of the play. “It was the best executed pick-and-roll we’ve run with Ayton so far this season.”
Such moments are crucial, as the Lakers hope Ayton will leverage his physical gifts and play with intention on offense. While Ayton acknowledges that he can be unpredictable at times, the Lakers want him to embrace straightforward plays that utilize his strengths, especially with their talented ball handlers.
In the aftermath of the missed dunk, Ayton found support not only from teammates on the court but also from those on the bench, generating an electric atmosphere. “I did not expect LeBron and everybody to be that hyped, man,” Ayton remarked. “They want me to do that.”
The Lakers aim for Ayton to consistently invest in these kinds of aggressive plays. Following the dunk attempt, Ayton went on to make his next four shots, including two more dunks, highlighting a shift in momentum. His aggressive play not only drew a flagrant foul on Naz Reid but invigorated the team’s energy on both ends of the court.
“If he does that, regardless of the result… I told him in the timeout after that, I was like, ‘Yo, I don’t care if you miss five more in a row as long as you go for it,’” Reaves emphasized regarding Ayton’s ability to apply pressure at the rim.
This pivotal moment may not resolve all the dynamics on the court, but it certainly serves as a beacon of optimism for Ayton’s integration with Dončić and Reaves. “He’s gonna feel more and more comfortable,” Dončić predicted. “It’s been two games, and we’re gonna be fine with him.”
As the Lakers look to build chemistry throughout the season, Ayton’s potential to complement the team’s strengths could be a crucial factor in their success.