Steve Nash skeptical of Lakers’ Deandre Ayton’s fit with Luka Doncic

Originally posted on NBA on ClutchPoints
By Julian Ojeda, ClutchPoints | Last updated Oct 17, 2025 12:30 PM ET

Former NBA star and Hall of Famer Steve Nash expressed doubts about how effectively Deandre Ayton will mesh with Luka Doncic as the Los Angeles Lakers prepare to open the 2025-26 regular season next week.

Speaking on The Zach Lowe Show, Nash discussed his concerns about Ayton’s offensive role and questioned whether the center’s style of play would complement Doncic’s ball-dominant, pick-and-roll-heavy approach.

“Ayton, I mean, he’s got to have a better year. We know he can put up numbers, but is he really going to roll? Like, that’s my big question there,” Nash said. “Is he really going to roll to the basket? Because it doesn’t really help the Lakers or Luka help the Lakers if he wants to pop or if he wants to slow down, you know, in the short role and become a playmaker. Like they really need him to want to be a little more dynamic, get in and out, get above the rim, be a vertical threat just to draw the defense, to ask questions so that Luka can do what he does and make the rest of that team better because they’re going to have problems defensively.”

Steve Nash stresses Deandre Ayton’s rim-running role as key for Lakers

Nash, who won two MVPs during his career and is widely regarded as one of the greatest playmakers in NBA history, emphasized that Ayton’s willingness to embrace a true rim-running role could determine how well the Lakers’ offense functions.

“I think they just don’t have like elite defenders at this stage,” Nash continued. “They have positional size, but for them, it’s going to be so important for him to make sure that offense hums, make sure he’s diving, letting Luka be at his best. Otherwise, you know, that delta between offense and defense will become really problematic.”

Nash’s comments come as the Lakers enter the final stretch of preseason play with several questions surrounding roster chemistry and health. LeBron James remains sidelined with a sciatica injury that has kept him out of training camp and all preseason games. The Lakers announced last week that the 40-year-old will miss the start of the regular season as he undergoes rehabilitation for nerve irritation in the glute. Head coach JJ Redick said the team will reevaluate James in three to four weeks.

Luka Doncic set to lead Lakers’ offense as Ayton looks to find rhythm before 2025-26 opener

Meanwhile, Doncic is expected to lead the Lakers offense from the start. The 26-year-old averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists across 28 games last season after being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster midseason trade for Anthony Davis.

Ayton, 27, joined Los Angeles this summer after finalizing a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers. He signed a two-year, $16.6 million contract with a player option for the second season. In 40 games with Portland last year, he averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 56.6 percent from the field.

In Tuesday’s 113-104 preseason loss to the Phoenix Suns, Ayton recorded 10 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks, two steals, and one assist while shooting 4-for-9 from the field in 26 minutes. Despite the defeat, he showed flashes of defensive presence and rebounding ability — key elements the Lakers hope to build on.

The Lakers will conclude their preseason schedule Friday against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena at 10:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV before opening the regular season Tuesday, Oct. 21, against the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET on NBC Peacock.

This article first appeared on NBA on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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