Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton entered the 2025-26 season in need of repairs to his reputation. While heralded as a special talent who went No. 1 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, a lackluster tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers soured many on how his abilities translate to the court.
It’s only taken Ayton five games to answer the critics who doubted what he can offer Los Angeles by proving to be capable of far more than the incumbents.
Ayton struggled in the Lakers’ regular season opener, posting 10 points and six rebounds in 34 minutes. Beyond the numbers, he failed to make a positive impression as his late defensive rotations and lack of assertiveness on offense played a clear part in Los Angeles’ 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
The inevitable result was a slew of analysts from every corner of the NBA world dissecting Ayton’s fit with the Lakers and questioning if he could be the player they need.
Ayton all but silenced the negativity in the remaining of the Lakers’ first five games of the 2025-26 season. He provided offensive value Los Angeles failed to find at center after trading Anthony Davis in February, and has even shown flashes of being able to anchor the defensive interior.
There’s still a long season to be played, but Ayton is already showing why the Lakers made the right decision by signing him to a team-friendly deal.
Deandre Ayton already proving to be an offseason steal for the Lakers
Ayton responded to adversity with 15 points, eight rebounds, three offensive boards, and a block in a dominant 128-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. That set the stage for one of his best performances in years, as he tallied 22 points and 15 rebounds in a 127-120 victory against the Sacramento Kings.
Ayton then posted 16 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and a block against the Portland Trail Blazers, and 17 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists in a rematch with the Timberwolves.
Each of those performances revealed a simple reality that the Lakers have been fortunate to live in. Los Angeles was matched up against productive centers in each of those matchups, including Donovan Clingan, Rudy Gobert, and Domantas Sabonis.
By no means did Ayton lock them down, but what he managed to do was step up with starting-caliber production of his own—a luxury the Lakers couldn’t afford in 2024-25.
A season ago, Hayes was tasked with playing as the Lakers’ go-to center after the team traded Davis for Luka Doncic. In 30 appearances, Hayes averaged 8.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 offensive boards, 1.2 assists, and 0.9 blocks in 21.8 minutes per game.
It was a respectable effort from Hayes, who may very well prove himself to be a high-level backup, but the fact that he played just 7.8 minutes per game during the playoffs spoke volumes.
Deandre Ayton is the starting-caliber center the Lakers desperately needed
For as solid as Hayes’ production is for a backup center, the Lakers desperately needed a starter who could play upward of 30 minutes and produce at a level that begins to match high-level opponents. Thankfully, Ayton is checking that essential box.
Through five games, Ayton is averaging 16.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 offensive boards, 1.0 block, and 0.8 steals. More importantly, he’s playing 34.4 minutes per game.
Ayton isn’t just present and posting empty statistics, either. His team defense still needs to improve, but he’s gone head-to-head with decorated big men and more than held his own against them. That includes forcing Sabonis, a two-time All-NBA honoree, to shoot 1-of-5, and 2024 Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid to go 0-of-4.
Considering Ayton is within his first five games with a new and injury-depleted team, it’s fair to cut him slack for the early issues with his off-ball play and instead focus on the progress he’s making.
Once Doncic and LeBron James are back in the rotation, Ayton will likely be able to spend more time focusing on defense. Even then, however, his ability to put up numers as a scorer and rebounder on both ends of the floor provides the Lakers with value they simply lacked after trading Davis in 2024-25.
Whether or not Ayton proves to be the perfect fit at center, he’s already justified the Lakers signing him by providing production they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to come by.
