Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton entered the 2025-26 season in need of repairs to his reputation. While heralded as a special talent who went No. 1 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, a lackluster tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers soured many on how his abilities translate to the court.
It's only taken Ayton five games to answer the critics who doubted what he can offer Los Angeles by proving to be capable of far more than the incumbents.
Ayton struggled in the Lakers' regular season opener, posting 10 points and six rebounds in 34 minutes.