Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton recently voiced frustration about being asked to take on a role similar to Clint Capela – something he initially resisted.
But since those comments, he’s shifted his mindset and embraced what the team needs from him.
“I bought in,” Ayton said. “Completely, like 110 percent. I hope you see the work.”
Adjusting to being the fourth or fifth option offensively hasn’t been easy, but Ayton acknowledged that change and has redirected his focus toward other areas of impact.
“That’s a fact. That is a true fact,” he told The Athletic Monday about scoring. “But me, I scratched that, I took that out. I said … when it comes to scoring, we don’t need that. We need you to put that energy what you have for offense and into defense.
“I just started looking in the mirror and said ‘Yo bro, … you’re not that guy. You don’t need to be on this team doing that at all. This team, you came here to be the effort guy and close out possessions, rebound. Run the damn floor hard as hell, make bigs work, make superstars work.’
“And I’m having fun with it, I’m not gonna lie.”
Deandre Ayton Completely 'Bought In' To Lakers Role https://t.co/U2IYkK0XJi
— RealGM (@RealGM) March 19, 2026
