Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 12: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of play against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on October 12, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Phoenix Suns, 114-104, in a preseason contest on October 13th.
In the preseason, for a team without a young core to showcase, wins and losses don’t matter so much. The Lakers enjoyed 25 points and seven rebounds from Luka Doncic in his preseason debut.
If the final score doesn’t matter, neither do Doncic’s five turnovers in only 22 minutes. His teammates were just happy to have him back on the court.
Doncic is expected to be in the MVP race this season, and the Lakers are expected to fight for a title. In Hollywood, there’s supreme faith in the Slovenian superstar.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic
GettyPHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 14: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against Isaiah Livers #18 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 14, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images)
Luka Doncic Puts LA Lakers In the ‘Spotlight’
Deandre Ayton has not played with a high-level point guard in either of his last two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. Developing Scoot Henderson was a priority, and there was a shortage of veteran talent.
In all five of his seasons with the Suns, over 70 percent of his shots were attempted without taking a dribble, often approaching the 80 percent mark. In his first season with the Blazers, he was at a lowly 60.7 percent.
That’s the Chris Paul effect. In Doncic, Ayton has an elite point guard to make his life easy once again.
“I’m going to be honest, the dude made crazy shots,” praised Ayton after the game. “He draws fouls, and he makes your teammates better. He puts you in that spotlight where you’re wide open. There you go.What are you going to do with it? That’s what great players do.”
Doncic connected with Ayton for a lob early in the game, and it’s clear that it will be a productive partnership.
Ayton’s Threat Makes Lakers’ Shooters Better
At seven feet tall and stronger than most centers, Ayton is a looming presence down low. On pick-and-rolls, with Doncic attacking downhill and Ayton waiting for a lob, defenses will collapse.
Between Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Jake LaRavia, Rui Hachimura, and Dalton Knecht, the Lakers have ample catch-and-shoot threats, and Doncic has the foresight to find them in the corner, even with Ayton getting ready to catch an easy lob.
“I feel like he’s got eyes on the back of his head,” added the center. “He was finding guys in the weak-side corners. I thought the pass was for me, but I’m ducking my head for the pass to get to the corner. That was really fun seeing how he starts to do his Luka-magic in those situations.”
Between Doncic and James, the Lakers have no shortage of playmakers. A healthy James is still a top-15 player in the world, even approaching his 41st birthday. However, the King is not healthy, and Doncic is.
For the first time in his career, the offense will not revolve around James.