Lakers’ Deandre Ayton Stepping Up Before Crucial Stretch

Whether it was his “crank juice” or some other source of motivation, it’s clear something has gotten into Deandre Ayton, who is back to being an engaged, physical center the Lakers need to succeed.

Ayton has become the talk of the town for the right reasons as of late, between double-doubles against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls and clutch plays against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. With another five games coming against a series of contenders, the former No. 1 pick’s play will be vital going forward.

Lakers’ Deandre Ayton Stepping Up Before Crucial Stretch

Ayton’s Energy and Focus Paying Dividends for LA

As the Lakers ride the momentum of a five-game winning streak, Ayton has made his presence felt throughout the process, only missing a Mar. 6 win over the Pacers due to a knee injury. It started with a modest matchup against the New York Knicks (six points, four rebounds), where head coach JJ Redick praised Ayton for his effort and defense. Then came a pair of double-doubles against the Timberwolves (14 points, 12 rebounds) on Mar. 10 and Bulls (23 points, ten rebounds) on Mar. 12, where the big man appeared to return toward the 20-point, ten-rebound center he was at the start of the season.

“Felt like I picked up my energy and my focus,” Ayton said after the win against Chicago. “You know, I finally caught up with the team. That’s about it.”

Overtime W vs. Denver

As the spotlight of the Lakers-Nuggets game veers between Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves and even Marcus Smart, Ayton’s contributions shouldn’t go unnoticed, either.

While Saturday’s overtime win may not have produced another elite stat line from him (nine points, nine rebounds, two assists, one block), Ayton’s crunch-time presence—a rarity prior to that game—was eye-opening.