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The last time Deandre Ayton appeared in the playoffs was in 2023, when he was a member of the Phoenix Suns and was viewed in NBA circles as having the potential to be a force as a center in the league.
A lot has changed since then for Ayton.
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He’s on his second team since those days in Phoenix — the Portland Trail Blazers and now the Lakers. He has been viewed as a player who hasn’t reached his full potential. He has been viewed as an inconsistent player.
Ayton has a chance to prove his worth, to show his critics he has the ability to be elite in the postseason when the Lakers open the first-round of the Western Conference playoffs Saturday against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena.
“That I truly am like, I love playing this game and I take great passion of playing on both ends of the floor,,” Ayton said after practice Wednesday. “I still believe just being a two-way player in this league, that’s truly my second nature, and that’s how I want to be noted as in this league. It’s just being an all-around, two- way superstar. Just taking passion on both ends of the floor.
” I can play hard on offense. I can play hard on defense. So, that’s just really my goal — running the floor always and closing out possessions with rebounds and protecting the rim. So, just trying to enhance everything I can coming into the playoffs.”
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Read more: Lakers prepare for Rockets playoff series with emphasis on rebounding
Ayton averaged career lows in points (12.5), rebounds (8.0) and minutes (27.2) with the Lakers this season. But he did play a career-high 72 games and shot a career-best 67.1% from the field.
In the three seasons Ayton reached the playoffs with the Suns, he was a double-double machine, averaging 15.9 points and 10.5 rebounds in a total of 45 games.
The Lakers will need that version of Ayton, especially with Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique muscle strain) out indefinitely.
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“Yeah, I’ve shown it,” Ayton said. “So, it’s just me accepting the role I’m in and playing hard as hell in that role. That’s about it. Every…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/deandre-ayton-knows-lakers-him-223025105.html
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Publish date : 2026-04-15 22:30:00
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