This article was originally published on hoopshabit.com as Lakers are finally learning why Suns and Blazers felt fine letting Deandre Ayton go. The Lakers hoped Deandre Ayton would look different in their environment. With more structure and higher stakes, the belief was that his talent would finally translate into consistent impact.

Despite a 120-114 win over Memphis, Deandre Ayton expressed frustration over his lack of touches, sparking a debate on his role alongside ball-dominant stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

The Los Angeles Lakers came into Sunday night's matchup against the Toronto Raptors in a bit of a funk, dropping two games in a row and five of their last six.

After benching Deandre Ayton late in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said his starting center was “frustrated” with his limited role, while explaining his decision to end the game with ...

Defense often decides close games, especially late in the fourth quarter. On January 9, 2026, one short moment stood out during a tight night for the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving fans focused less on the score and more on the effort inside the paint.

During a media session, JJ Redick candidly spoke about how Deandre Ayton’s frustration seems to be affecting his on-court impact, while sharing that responsibility for the situation falls on both the player and the team. The Los Angeles Lakers have faced ...

How did the Lakers earn a sorely needed win to close a grueling stretch of games? Deandre Ayton and Drew Timme were among their X-factors.