The Los Angeles Lakers are getting the best version of Deandre Ayton because they convinced him to buy into his role. The seven-footer grabbed 16 boards in Game 6 against one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA. He was locked in on shutting down Alperen Sengun, and did it all with only six shot attempts. The Suns and Blazers could only dream of getting that type of production and role buy-in from DA.
Portland bought out Ayton because of his poor habits (subscription required). He wanted to be DominAyton and was unhappy when not given those opportunities. It was a gamble bringing in the big man. His talent was never a question, but his impact on winning was. Many predicted this move to flop, but DA had other ideas.
The Lakers had to get him to buy into his role, and it happened. Ayton is locked in on the game plan. He was defending and rebounding against the Rockets without being fed the ball. It is those little things that helped the purple and gold pull a first-round playoff upset without Luka Doncic.
Deandre Ayton is fully bought into his role with the Lakers
Ayton averaged just 6.8 field goal attempts per game in LA’s four wins over the Rockets. He got 13 a night in the two losses, which included a weak ejection in Game 4. The Lakers did not need DA's scoring. They had to have him defending Alperen Sengun and finishing possessions with a board.
Nobody thought Ayton would buy into his role. He was traded by the Suns and cut by the Blazers after several on and off-court headaches. The Lakers knew he was talented and believed that head coach JJ Redick could get him to buy in. They were right.
Don’t believe me? Listen to Ayton tell you about how locked in he was on the Lakers’ game plan in their Game 6 and series-clinching win over the Rockets.
“JJ really challenged me about guarding Sengun one-on-one … We just wanted to go back on how we guarded them if KD were out there. Guard them straight up and I took the challenge to my chin. Just putting the team on my back and them trusting me” - Ayton on his defense pic.twitter.com/rlsGUhnl8W
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 2, 2026
Houston scored 78 points, and Sengun had one assist. The Rockets were outscored by 27 points in their All-Star’s 38 minutes on the floor. It was Ayton defending the rim, grabbing boards, and not letting Sengun go off. It wasn’t him taking mid-range jumpers or attacking the basket. Ayton’s seven points were an afterthought. It was everything else that helped the Lakers advance.
The job is not done for Los Angeles. They advanced to face the defending champion Thunder in the second round of the playoffs. Ayton’s tasks will get more challenging trying to shut down OKC. Head coach JJ Redick will ask a ton from each player in this series, but fans should expect Ayton to fill his role.
The Los Angeles Lakers got Deandre Ayton to buy into being a defense-first option. He is impacting the game without being an offensive focal point. That hasn’t happened in his NBA career. Ayton averaged a career low in scoring this season and is doing all the little things needed to help his team win a playoff series.
Credit to coach Redick for getting him to buy in. That wasn’t easy, but it was exactly what the Lakers needed. Ayton has clearly turned over a new leaf at just the right time for LA.
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