Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton. Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Deandre Ayton slams Lakers over role: 'I'm not Clint Capela'

By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Feb 26, 2026 11:30 AM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers are dealing with some locker room tension, and Deandre Ayton's offensive involvement is right in the middle of it. Tuesday's 110-109 loss to the Orlando Magic brought frustration to the surface in a way that was hard to ignore.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that Ayton was not pleased with how the night unfolded, despite turning in quality minutes in which he posted 21 points on 8-11 shooting while adding 13 rebounds in 32 minutes of action.

When asked whether his energy level should translate to more opportunities on offense, he initially kept his response measured and suggested that hard work typically gets rewarded. But as he made his way toward the showers, that composure cracked. His voice carried across the locker room loud enough for teammates to hear.

Ayton made his feelings known about the gap between what he's doing on the court and the touches he's receiving.

"They're trying to make me Clint Capela. I'm not no Clint Capela."

Ayton put together one of his strongest performances in weeks and looked engaged on both ends. He gave the Lakers consistent production against an Orlando frontcourt that features Wendell Carter Jr., Paolo Banchero and Jonathan Isaac.

He battled for position, converted through contact and chased down rebounds that had been slipping away in recent outings. The numbers told part of the story, but his presence inside was what really stood out.

Moreover, the comment was not random. Capela built his career in Houston as a lob threat and rim runner who thrived off setups from ball-dominant guards.

Ayton was the first overall pick in 2018 and clearly does not view himself as someone who should be limited to that kind of role. He believes his game has more range than just screening and cutting to the basket.

Yagya Bhargava

Yagya Bhargava began his professional journey as a chef, but his passion for sports eventually led him into sports journalism. He started writing in 2022 and has since published more than 5,000 articles covering the NFL and NBA. Along the way, he’s worked with outlets like The Cold Wire, Sportskeeda, The SportsRush, and The Big Lead

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