It took almost the entire 82-game NBA season, but now Los Angeles Lakers fans can confidently say they're contenders to raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Luka Doncic's surge, LeBron James' willingness to scale back, and role players buying in have made this turnaround possible, but it all starts with the center position.
From the opening tip of the 2025-26 season, the center spot looked like it would be this season's Achilles heel. Deandre Ayton was struggling to show a willingness to adapt his game and be the type of center the Lakers needed. Jaxson Hayes was not quite talented enough to be a starting-caliber center. Things didn't look great. However, since returning from the All-Star break, Ayton and Hayes have been two of LA's biggest contributors and are playing a massive role in turning things around.
It all started when Ayton took accountability for his poor attitude earlier in the season. The Lakers center admitted he looked in the mirror and realized what he needed to become to help LA be a contender — a back-to-the-basket center.
The tandem brings different styles, giving Lakers head coach JJ Redick options at the five. Hayes is all about energy, hustle, and athleticism. Ayton is all about size, talent, and finesse. Redick has also begun experimenting with Rui Hachimura at the small-ball five in certain spurts, and even that's been effective.
The Lakers frontcourt went from a liability to a weapon
What was once the Lakers' biggest weakness is now a versatile cast that gives them the ability to handle any matchup.
If LA needs scoring, Redick can go to Ayton—if they need a jolt of energy and someone to crash the glass hard, he goes to Hayes—and if they need to mount a quick comeback or need floor spacing, he can call Hachimura's number. They have it all.
One thing all three players share is that they are former top-10 picks. Although they never reached the All-Star-level potential some evaluators saw in them on their respective draft nights, their skill sets, scaled back to smaller roles in LA, have been so beneficial for the Lakers.
On Wednesday night, we saw Hayes explode in the place of Ayton as a starter, putting up 21 points and 10 rebounds while shooting nearly 82 percent from the field. Over the last five games, on average, the trio of Hachimura, Ayton, and Hayes accounts for nearly 22 percent of the Lakers' nightly scoring output.
That percentage may sound small. However, for a team that employs Doncic, who's averaged over 40 points per game during that same stretch, as well as LeBron and Austin Reaves, nearly 22 percent means they are doing exactly what's needed of them.
When you have a three stars like the Lakers do, your centers are unlikely to be highly-featured players in your offense. You still need impact from that spot.
Hachimura, Ayton, and Hayes are reminiscent of the Dallas Mavericks' trio of Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and P.J. Washington in 2023-24. If you need a reminder, that frontcourt helped Doncic lead Dallas to the NBA Finals. So, what's stopping him from doing the same for LA this season?