The Los Angeles Lakers have endured a grueling string of injuries with the playoffs just over the horizon. True to an injury-plagued season's form, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were both ruled out for extended periods of time, with many wondering if they'll be able to return for a potential first-round series.
With the sincere possibility of entering the playoffs without their top two scorers, the Lakers have inadvertently opened the door for Deandre Ayton to make one last statement about his offensive ability.
Ayton, 27, has been at the heart of many debates amongst Lakers fans in 2025-26. Some have called for him to be featured more on offense, while others have proposed that defense and rebounding should be his primary focus for a team in need of those very contributions.
Ayton ultimately came to the realization that the Lakers needed more from him on defense. With Doncic and Reaves out, however, balance will be essential.
Los Angeles still has an All-Star talent leading the charge in LeBron James. James is 41, however, which has many questioning how sustainable it is for him to have to take over every game he plays. Thankfully, the fourth-leading scorer on the team is still present: Ayton.
The Lakers will need other players to make their mark along the perimeter, but with Ayton thriving down low, they could at least stabilize the ship until Doncic and Reaves return.
Deandre Ayton can change narrative, secure future with stars out
Ayton has proven in the past that he can take on a somewhat robust offensive role and thrive within it. He averaged 18.0 points per game on 58.9 percent shooting from the field during his final season with the Phoenix Suns in 2022-23, and averaged 16.7 on 57.0 percent shooting in 2023-24 with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Ayton also helped Phoenix reach the 2021 NBA Finals with postseason averages of 15.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, and averaged 17.9 points on 64.0 percent shooting during the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
Ayton has played a fairly significant role on offense in 2025-26 for the Lakers, which makes asking him to take on more responsibilities fairly reasonable. He's fourth on the team at 12.4 points per game and has 12 20-point games thus far.
Ayton doesn't necessarily need to post 20 points per game, but if he can develop a symbiotic relationship with James on offense, then the Lakers could give opposing defenses trouble.
Lakers are 20-2 when Deandre Ayton scores 15+ points
There's ample reason for optimism if one looks past the narratives that suggest Ayton should take a back seat. Los Angeles is 11-1 this season when Ayton scores at least 20 points and an eye-opening 20-2 when he posts at least 15. It's also 20-3 when he attempts a minimum of 10 field goals.
Those are legitimately dominant records with the latter sample sizes equating to more than a quarter of the regular season schedule.
If Ayton proves that he can thrive in a consistently featured offensive role, then those who have written him off as a player on the outskirts of career stability will be proven wrong. He could either accept his player option or enter free agency in 2026 with a healthier narrative following him and an opportunity for a multi-year contract presented to him.
It's a high-pressure situation, but if Ayton is up to the task, then he could help save the Lakers' season and change his career trajectory in one fell swoop.