Injuries, inconsistency, bench stints, and public critiques have marked Deandre Ayton’s first season with the Los Angeles Lakers. During Game 3 of the Conference Semifinals against the Thunder, the starting center faced online criticism for a perceived lack of effort in a crucial postseason matchup. Head coach JJ Redick promptly pulled him from the game but continues to express confidence in the former No. 1 pick as a potential X-factor.
At Sunday’s practice, Redick was asked about the sequence when the Lakers struggled to secure a defensive stop and rebound. Cameras caught the second-year head coach telling his assistant, “I can’t play him.” Ayton was subsequently subbed out and did not return, finishing with 10 points and six rebounds in 23:32 minutes, including just one defensive rebound.
“I’ve been around DA for a season now,” Redick explained. “I know how special he is for our group to succeed. I told him this morning that during the Houston series, at one point he was a big part of the reason we were winning. He was a big part of the reason we won the series. I believe in him, and he’s going to help us win tomorrow.” The head coach has not given up on the 27-year-old, though he previously criticized Ayton’s poor catching habits, saying bluntly a few months ago: “He’s had trouble catching the ball. We’ve run a bunch of plays for him… I don’t know if that’s the passing or him trying to get position. He just hasn’t been able to catch the ball.”
Despite those earlier remarks, Ayton proved instrumental against the Houston Rockets. Over six games, he averaged 11.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks on 60.4% shooting, recording double-doubles in three games—including 19 points and 11 rebounds on 80% shooting in the series opener and 18 points, 17 rebounds, and two blocks in Game 5.
Against the Thunder, however, his numbers have dipped. Through three games, Ayton is averaging 7.7 points and 9.3 rebounds on 39.3% shooting, with a three-point outing on 14.3% shooting in Game 2. The drop in performance has once again raised questions about his motor, a recurring issue throughout the season. But with Redick’s public backing, the narrative could shift.
Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault previously called Ayton a “priority” for the Thunder defense after his Rockets series performance. Redick himself noted that Ayton raises the Lakers’ ceiling more than any other player. In Game 3, the Lakers held a halftime advantage for the second straight game in the series, but everything unraveled in the third quarter. LeBron James scored just two points, and Austin Reaves went scoreless in that frame. The Lakers were outscored by 31 overall, though Ayton showed some early spark.