With less than 20 games left in the 2025-26 season for the Los Angeles Lakers, it's safe to say the Deandre Ayton experiment hasn't quite worked out the way Lakers fans may have hoped it would. However, following Thursday night's 142-130 win over the Chicago Bulls, Ayton did and said something that had Lakers fans looking for their glasses.
During his post-game media availability, Ayton was asked about the Lake Show's uptick in intensity. The response from the Lakers center offered a surprising instance of incredible self-awareness.
"Felt like I picked up my energy and my focus. And, you know, I finally caught up with the team. That's about it."
So what does all this mean? It might be time to buy a lottery ticket. It was just a couple of weeks ago that Ayton was blasting the team's coaching staff for trying to make him play like someone he's not. Now he's completely flipped things around by finally taking ownership of his play.
All season, the former first overall pick was lacking the attention to detail and energy needed to play the center spot for this team. But now, with him near 60 games into his Lakers career, the fan base is finally starting to see the strides they've been waiting for all season.
Lakers need this self-aware version of Deandre Ayton
These comments also came off the heels of a great game from Ayton, where he was crashing the boards hard and out-muscling Chicago's big men all night. He finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds, shooting an efficient 76.9 percent from the field.
Now, context is key. The Bulls are a team with a depleted frontcourt, featuring just Nick Richards and Jalen Smith, but give credit where credit is due. Ayton took advantage of an easier matchup the whole night, and instead of settling, went right at both Smith and Richards.
When you pair a confidence-boosting performance with comments that express accountability, it's not hard to convince yourself this could be the start of a turnaround for Ayton. The key will be the same as it's always been: consistency.
Over an 82-game season, players will have their ups and downs with their production. But for Ayton, it's more about avoiding the mental downs. If he can keep a clear head and remain accountable during this final stretch, the Lakers could be rolling into the playoffs.
All season long, it's been clear that the center spot can dictate how far LA goes in the postseason. With a cast of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves, there's no question what they'll get from the perimeter players. It's all about what they can get from the man in the middle.
If this accountability from DA is real and can remain a theme for him, then the sky's the limit for this team. If it doesn't, they could end up being a first-round flop. The final stretch of the season will reveal whether this 'new' Ayton is here to stay.