Lakers’ Deandre Ayton Says Championship Goals Realistic: ‘That’s Why I’m Here’

Deandre Ayton is ready to return to the NBA Finals.

Yes, it’s sometimes hard to remember that Ayton was there a few years ago as a starting center with the Phoenix Suns. Now, he aims to return with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He seems to believe that’s a real possibility.

“I have a team that’s ready to win a championship and has the best two playmakers in the world (LeBron James and Luka Doncic),” Ayton said on ESPN LA, via HoopsHype. “I know the type of player I am when I have players of that caliber around me — how I thrive and the contribution they’ll get out of me.”

On paper, Ayton is precisely what the Lakers need. He’s big, athletic, a great catcher of lobs. On the downside, he wore out his welcome with both the Suns and Portland Trail Blazers, and he did so rather quickly. Then again, neither of those teams had a LeBron James to help coach him on the floor.

Ayton has already expressed excitement about playing with Doncic, as the two share an agent. Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft; Doncic was No. 3. They have traveled two very different career paths since then.

But here they are, and the Lakers are counting on them working, together, for quite some time.

“When it comes to willingness — I’m willing to do anything for the team,” Ayton said. “The goal is winning, and that’s what slowed me down in the past. You haven’t seen that Finals version of me because the environments were focused on development, not winning. That’s why I’m here.”