The Los Angeles Lakers are headed toward the playoffs battered by injuries, and the latest absences could leave Deandre Ayton with a bigger stage than he has had all season. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have both been ruled out for extended periods, raising the possibility that Los Angeles could open a first-round series without its top two scorers.
That possibility has turned Ayton, 27, into one of the most watched players on the roster. He is the Lakers’ fourth-leading scorer, and some fans in 2025-26 have pushed for him to be used more on offense, while others want him locked into defense and rebounding. With LeBron James now 41 and the Lakers needing other players to make their mark along the perimeter, Ayton’s touch around the basket could matter more than ever.
The case for a larger offensive load is not built on guesswork. Ayton has already shown he can handle it, averaging 18.0 points per game on 58.9 percent shooting in 2022-23 with the Phoenix Suns and then 16.7 points per game on 57.0 percent shooting in 2023-24 with the Portland Trail Blazers. He helped Phoenix reach the 2021 NBA Finals, a reminder that his game has been good enough before to carry real weight in a deep run.
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Still, the Lakers have a different need now, and Ayton appears to know it. He has come to the realization that Los Angeles needs more from him on defense, which is why the debate around him has become so sharp: the team may need his scoring, but it also may need him to anchor possessions and clean up the glass while others handle the perimeter work.
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That is what makes this stretch feel so decisive for Ayton. If Doncic and Reaves stay sidelined into the postseason, he may get the chance to show whether he can be both a steady scoring option and the interior presence the Lakers need when the games matter most.
