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LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 9, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) stands alone on the court during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on February 79 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Controversial center DeAndre Ayton is admitting that he’s made some changes to improve his play and fit better into the Los Angeles Lakers offense over the past week. Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka signed Ayton during the offseason in hopes of fixing the massive weakness at the starting center position from last season. Lackluster play has made Ayton a scapegoat for some losses this season.

However, Ayton has been playing better lately and revealed why after last night’s win over the Chicago Bulls:

“Felt like I picked up my energy and my focus. I finally caught up with the team. We’re playing really hard. We’re playing with a sense of urgency. We’re playing together. I think we’re emphasizing competitiveness.

We’re competing in every aspect – effort, 50-50 chances. Just really attacking the ball on both ends and closing out these possessions. It’s been pretty scrappy.”

The comment revealed that Ayton wasn’t playing with the best energy or focus to cause his struggles throughout the season. JJ Redick has benched Ayton in favor of reserve Jaxson Hayes for multiple games this season. The Lakers will need Ayton to play solid basketball to have a chance at advancing in the NBA Playoffs.

DeAndre Ayton Proved Lakers Fans Right

Ayton both provided optimism for the rest of the season by addressing his problems, but he also showed that Lakers fans were right in their careers. The former number one pick has developed a negative reputation for not giving his best effort and being content with letting his potential go to waste.

Waiting until mid-March to correct the issue of giving full effort and focusing on the team goal is not an ideal situation. A team with LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves also makes his job far easier with three great offensive talents getting him good looks at easy buckets.

Ayton has started to play more effectively and is just making the simple plays on both ends that his team asks of him. The past two games coming off an injury have seen Ayton playing his best basketball of the season. Averages of 18.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game have fans hoping to see this continue to increase the Lakers’ ceiling.

DeAndre Ayton’s NBA Future On The Line

It is hard to envision Ayton losing his spot in the NBA next season, but he is starting to lose respect around the league. Disappointing tenures with the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers saw Ayton proving he’ll likely never be an All-Star, despite getting drafted over Doncic and Trae Young as an elite prospect.

The Lakers’ opportunity felt like the perfect chance to at least prove that Ayton can be an effective starting center in the league for many years. A failed season so far could see the team trying to move on from him either next season if he enforces his opt out clause or next season as a free agent.

Other teams will be unlikely to sign Ayton beyond a minimum contract if he ends this Lakers tenure poorly. Talented young players are dropping out of the league faster than ever since less talented role players can fit into systems easier than past eras via three-point shooting and defense.

Joey Haverford Joey Haverford is a seasoned sports content writer with over 12 years of experience. He has covered the NBA, WNBA, MLB, NFL, and professional wrestling in the sports industry. More about Joey Haverford

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