Deandre Ayton expressed excitement about joining the Los Angeles Lakers and linking up with Luka Doncic. During the first day of 2025 training camp, Ayton said it was “pretty cool to be this young in our age and finally link up and to work together and just be a vocal point of the team.”
“I don’t even know like something we spoke about or we thought about ‘you thinking what I am thinking?’ and it finally came to life almost in a way,” Ayton added, reflecting on the journey from draft prospects to now teammates.
Ayton signed a two-year, $16.6 million deal with the Lakers on July 6, including a player option for the second season.
The center aims to be a focal point for the team alongside Doncic and contribute immediately on both ends of the floor.
The Lakers’ roster now features a combination of veteran stars like LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes, alongside young talent such as Bronny James and Augustas Marciulionis.
Over his seven-year career, Ayton has averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, providing consistent production in the paint.
