Deandre Ayton’s first game in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform didn’t exactly go as planned. The former number one overall pick arrived via a major offseason trade with expectations of providing the frontcourt presence the Lakers desperately needed alongside Luka Dončić.
But after a subdued performance in the 119-109 opening night loss to the Golden State Warriors, at least one Lakers legend wasn’t satisfied with what he saw.
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The Lakers struggled offensively without LeBron James in the lineup, and the absence made it clear that contributions beyond Dončić and Austin Reaves would be essential. Los Angeles needed someone to step forward and fill that void.
On Wednesday, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal delivered a direct message to Ayton during an ESPN appearance, calling on the center to elevate his game and shoulder more responsibility.
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“Listen Deandre, dominAyton, that performance yesterday, I need you to step it up my boy. You got to do three things. You got to rebound and you got to block shots and you got to dominate. The pressure’s not on you, you got two great players that get double a lot. When they make that little bounce pass, catch it and throw it down…. We need you brother, we need you to step it up,” O’Neal said.
The expectations placed on Ayton are significant, even if he’s not being asked to carry the team as the primary star. Those responsibilities clearly belong to Dončić and James. However, Ayton is expected to be a crucial contributor if the Lakers want to compete among the league’s elite this season.
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In his Lakers debut, Ayton posted 10 points, six rebounds, and one block across 34 minutes of action. He shot efficiently at 5-of-7 from the field, but his impact felt somewhat muted in an offense heavily controlled by the ball-dominant Dončić.
Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton
Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) grabs a rebound against Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
Historically comfortable operating in the midrange, Ayton will likely need to shift his focus closer to the basket once defenses begin doubling both Dončić and James.
O’Neal clearly wants to see more aggression in the paint from Ayton. How the center adapts to these demands could determine whether the Lakers have finally found stability at the position.
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