Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins doesn't want to see Deandre Ayton of the Los Angeles Lakers go down a similar path.
In the past, Ayton has battled the disgruntled, bad teammate narrative during his runs with the Phoenix Suns and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Joining the Lakers, where Ayton wouldn't be under the spotlight as much, he landed in a situation where he could lay low and play within a specific role alongside some of the most dynamic scorers in Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Recently, it was revealed that Ayton has desired more touches, and the frustrated label was used to describe his mood around the team.
"I think he's frustrated," Lakers head coach JJ Redick recently told reporters. "He doesn't feel like he's getting the ball. You know, there is some stuff we had to clean up versus the shock for him to just be more available. But, I'd say it boils down to that."
After the following game, Ayton's quote made its rounds on social media.
"Bigs can't feed themselves," he told reporters. "I just try my best do what I can to bring effort, and I trust my playmakers out there to find me."
In Cousins' eyes, Ayton gave a complaining vibe over the past week, leading the former All-Star to send a strong message.
"The complaining, the whining, that kind of put you in this situation of where you are in your career in the first place. Let's not get back to that," Cousins said on FanDuel TV's Run It Back.
"I think you've been doing incredible this season, and I want you to stay exactly where you are as a player. You have to realize that no team in the NBA is signing you to be a scorer. They're not going to drop the ball down to you. They're not going to ISO you on the block. None of those things are going to happen for you. If you want to go get more shot attempts, pick up the effort on the boards. That's where you go get your shot attempts. … If you want more touches, get on the boards."
As strong as the message is, Cousins is doing it in a supportive manner. He wants to see Ayton, a former first-overall pick, stay under the radar and maintain his consistency within a niche role.
This season, Ayton is averaging 14.3 points and 8.4 rebounds. Although the Lakers are unlikely to center their offense around him, there seems to be a clear effort to get him more touches if the game asks for the adjustment.
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