Deandre Ayton's role key for Lakers' playoff push in 2026

Deandre Ayton's performance against Orlando showed why the Lakers rely on him in the playoffs.

Lakers' loss shows Ayton's value The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a tough defeat to the Orlando Magic on February 24, but Deandre Ayton delivered a strong performance. He scored 21 points on just 11 shots while grabbing 13 rebounds, giving the Lakers a physical big man to counter Orlando's tough frontcourt trio of Wendell Carter Jr., Paolo Banchero, and Jonathan Isaac. When asked if his teammates rewarded his effort with more opportunities, Ayton responded with a thoughtful answer. He said, 'The ball finds energy. They believe in me when I'm down there and sealing, and they see me running hard to the rim and crashing; they reward me.' This was Ayton's first 20-10 game in nearly a month, and to him, it proved the role he should play more often for the Lakers.

Ayton's self-aware moment after game After speaking to reporters, Ayton headed back toward the locker room and shared an unfiltered thought loud enough for everyone to hear. He said, 'They're trying to make me Clint Capela,' referencing the Houston Rockets' former center who built his career as a lob-catching, rim-running big man on teams that reached multiple conference finals.

Ayton's crucial screen sets up Doncic While much attention went to Luka Doncic passing up a final shot in the losing game, little was said about how he got that open look. The play that freed Doncic came from Ayton, who executed a precise screen during a timeout play. He ran from the backcourt to the left wing and set a hard pick on Anthony Black to create space for Doncic beyond the arc. This type of clutch screening isn't typically expected from the 2018 No. 1 overall pick, who was selected two spots ahead of Doncic, three ahead of Jaren Jackson Jr., four ahead of Trae Young, ten ahead of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and 32 ahead of Jalen Brunson.

Ayton's development remains a question Despite his physical tools—standing at 7 feet with a 9-foot-3 standing reach, a 7-foot-5 wingspan, and a 43-inch vertical—Ayton has struggled to shed his reputation as a talented but inconsistent player. His past antics, like performing cartwheels in the locker room or missing games due to poor preparation, have overshadowed his on-court impact. Even Marcus Smart, who joined the Lakers as a free agent last summer and shares a locker next to Ayton, acknowledged room for improvement. Smart said, 'I think he's done OK. He definitely could be better, we all could. But the thing I love about it is he understands it and he's working. We all are trying to figure it out; this is new to everybody. He's doing his best, but he understands it's another notch that we need him to go to, and we're going to try to get him there and help with that. But he knows he's got to do his part as well.'

Ayton's memorable pregame stunt Less than an hour before a January 13 game against the Atlanta Hawks, Ayton entered the Lakers' locker room with a flair for the dramatic. Just inside the door, his casual walk turned stiff for a few awkward steps before he launched himself toward the floor. What could have been a bizarre pregame injury turned into a display of athleticism as Ayton placed both hands over his head and executed a cartwheel, followed by a somersault, landing safely on his feet. 'I hope that made y'all day!' Ayton yelled to the room after sticking the landing. 'That was a 7-footer, 260 [pounds], that just did a cartwheel!'

Ayton's unusual past persona Ayton's past antics extended beyond playful locker room moments. Early in his career, he would sometimes adopt different media personas, like 'Alejandro,' a character who spoke with an accent, or 'Josh,' whose mood shifted unpredictably. These quirks sometimes carried over to interactions with teammates and coaches. While playing for the Portland Trail Blazers between 2023 and 2025, he famously missed a home game against the Brooklyn Nets because he failed to prepare for icy commute conditions, leaving him stuck in his neighborhood.

Ayton's performance earns teammates' praise Austin Reaves, who was recovering from a left calf strain, took a break from his drills and sat courtside at Ball Arena. Watching a teammate warm up intensely, Reaves pointed to Ayton and said, 'That guy right there is the X factor. He changes our ceiling.' A week after the Hawks game where Ayton started with cartwheels and finished with 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting and 18 rebounds, he was dominating midrange shots as the Lakers prepared to face a team that ended their seasons in 2023 and 2024. Ayton's season averages stood at 13.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks over 49 games, making him the second-most available player on the team behind Jake LaRavia.

Ayton's shooting efficiency shines Despite averaging a career-low 9.0 field goal attempts, Ayton has shot a career-best 66.7% from the field, the second-best mark in the league behind Rudy Gobert. If this percentage holds, it would be the best by a Laker since Wilt Chamberlain in 1972-73. However, his impact is often judged against sky-high expectations set by his draft status and early playoff success in Phoenix, where he helped the Suns reach their first NBA Finals in nearly 30 years at age 22. A Western Conference scout commented on his draft position, saying, 'As a first pick, he's mostly underachieved.'

Lakers' dynamics shape Ayton's role The Lakers' success this season, including a 16-3 record when Ayton takes at least 10 field goal attempts, comes with a major caveat: only three of those wins included James, Doncic, and Reaves on the court together, meaning more touches were available. Ayton's efficiency has been undeniable, but his role is defined by the team's star-studded lineup of James, Doncic, and Reaves. This context makes his contributions seem less impressive despite the strong numbers. JJ Redick, the Lakers' coach, emphasized the necessity of others passing to Ayton, saying, 'That's the reality of being a big: Someone has to pass you the ball. You're not initiating the offense.'

Ayton's ego and team support Ayton has embraced a confident persona, reflected in the 'DOMINAYTON' tattoo across his upper back and the Lakers' playful gestures, like a black T-shirt with half of a lion's face and half of Ayton's face, gifted by team president Rob Pelinka. Training staff even personalize his water bottle with 'DA's Crunk Juice -- Drink this to unleash the beast.' The Lakers aim to channel Ayton's competitive fire into embracing his role beyond scoring, focusing on high-energy tasks like screening, rim pressure, rebounding, transition defense, communication, and positioning. Redick noted, 'When he's at his best, and we've seen it, we've seen glimpses of it, he's playing with force. And that's playing with great force on both ends of the floor.'