Deandre Ayton’s rebounding struggles have nothing to do with his ability. They are about involvement. When Ayton is not part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ offense, his impact on the glass disappears with it.
That is exactly what head coach JJ Redick pointed to when discussing Ayton’s recent play. “I think he’s frustrated. He doesn’t feel like he’s getting the ball,” Redick said, adding that it’s “human nature” for rebounding to slip when a player does not feel engaged offensively.
The Lakers, he noted, need to do a better job of getting Ayton touches early in games.