Deandre Ayton last reached the playoffs in 2023 with the Phoenix Suns. Now the Lakers need the same version of the center on Saturday when they open the first round of the Western Conference playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena.
That need is sharper because Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are sidelined indefinitely, leaving Los Angeles with less margin for mistakes. Lakers coach JJ Redick said the formula is simple: taking care of the basketball and boxing out, because “that’s the series.”
Ayton has spent the season trying to show he can still be the player who powered Phoenix in the postseason. In three playoff runs with the Suns, he averaged 15.9 points and 10.5 rebounds across 45 postseason games, production the Lakers were hoping to buy when they signed him to a two-year, $16-million deal with a player option.
This season, though, the numbers were uneven by his standards. Ayton averaged career lows in points, rebounds and minutes, finishing at 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 27.2 minutes while playing a career-high 72 games. He also shot a career-best 67.1% from the field, which gives Los Angeles a reason to believe the efficiency can carry into the postseason.
Redick did not hide what he expects from him now. He said the whole season has been about finding consistency, and added that when Ayton is at his best, the Lakers are an elite basketball team. He said Ayton raises the team’s ceiling on both sides of the ball and called him a very good player the club is happy to have.
Ayton, for his part, said he wants to be seen as an all-around, two-way superstar and described defense and rebounding as part of his nature. He said he loves playing the game and takes great passion in playing on both ends of the floor, adding that his goal is to run the floor, close possessions with rebounds and protect the rim. He said he has been challenged a lot this season, but embraced everything that came with it and eventually got control of his role.
That matters more now because Houston will bring a difficult matchup in All-Star center Alperen Sengun, who averages 20.4 points and 8.9 rebounds. If Ayton controls the paint and keeps the Lakers from giving away possessions, he can change the series; if he does not, Los Angeles will be asking too much of a roster already reduced by injuries.
