Deandre Ayton has never been a proper defensive anchor at the center position throughout his NBA career. For the Los Angeles Lakers to hit the type of highs they need to in 2025-26, that is exactly the type of player Ayton must mold himself into.
On a recent episode of The Athletic's NBA Daily, Andrew Schlecht highlighted just how crucial it will be for the Lakers center to embrace this pivotal transformation. The process would involve some soul searching for the former first overall pick.
"Hopefully he's taken a good, hard look in the mirror ... and said I've got to lock in defensively," Schlecht said. "If he does, I think this team is going to be really good. Now playoffs is a whole other story, ... but regular season-wise, I think they're going to win a ton of games."
If the Lakers do want to stack up those victories once the 2025-26 NBA season starts, they need Ayton at his best. For them, that includes being able to make up for some of the other mistakes of those around him defensively.
Deandre Ayton's success is a pivotal swing factor for Lakers' season
It cannot be overstated how important Ayton's success will be to the Lakers as a whole. There can be no overestimation of his own talents from the Lakers big man. The well-publicized troubles from his days with the Portland Trail Blazers must stay in the state of Oregon.
The Lakers are one disappointing experiment away from turning back to Jaxson Hayes as the starting center. That would be a situation the team would undoubtedly like to avoid.
Luka Doncic thrives when his centers can serve two crucial roles. Offensively, those players need to provide an outlet to his electrifying playmaking abilities. Catch lobs, roll to the basket, and fill the dunker spot. The beauty is in its simplicity.
Defensively, Doncic needs a big man who can anchor a defense. Look no further than Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II as two prime examples of the requirements. That defensive model is the one Ayton needs to follow.
In all fairness, the projected starting center for the Lakers next season is not quite as nimble on his feet as Lively. However, locking in on being a good one-on-one matchup, a strong help defender, and capable rim protector with his size and frame is not a task that is an unfair ask of Ayton.
The Lakers are still lacking on the defensive perimeter, even after the addition of Marcus Smart. There will be lapses in coverage. When those happen, Ayton must be the clean-up crew for Los Angeles.