Deandre Ayton’s Los Angeles Lakers debut in the preseason against the Suns didn’t exactly scream “offensive masterclass.” One point with just two attempted shots. But the 27-year-old is not rattled, instead reflecting on the bigger picture. The game isn’t about him being fed touches, but instead about what will happen once the full squad takes the floor.

In his postgame interview, Ayton remarked, “Trust those playmakers, and if you get more than two shots, then that was how the game’s supposed to go. JJ’s trusting [Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves] to be our main, primary ball handlers, and me being the big man in the game. So, you know, I’m absorbing all of that, and yeah, it’d probably be hard not to touch the ball with them great playmakers, to be honest.”

Out of the three playmakers mentioned, only Austin Reaves was playing today. LeBron is nursing a glute injury while Doncic is being ramped up following a busy summer playing for Slovenia in EuroBasket. Ayton was left out there on the floor without the two main offensive engines, and, for him, the night was less about empty numbers and more about staying patient.

Still, he didn’t hide from the reality of his stat line. “Like I said from the get-go, I’m not really here for numbers, I’m just here for whatever the Lakers really want me to do,” He told reporters, emphasizing that he was focused on defense instead of the scoreboard.

His performance on the defensive end backed up his words. He pulled down eight rebounds and had two huge blocks, patrolling the paint like a veteran defensive anchor. “The objective is really protecting that rim and closing out possessions,” he said. The message was clear: build trust and lock in defensively, because the offense will come with initiators.

The proof is in the pudding with Deandre Ayton- his most productive years came during the Chris Paul era in Phoenix. The “Point God” not only set Ayton up with easy mid-range looks but also maximized his rim-rolling threat. Their two-man game became one of the Suns’ deadliest actions: Paul would snake dribble off Ayton’s screen, forcing opposing bigs into an impossible choice- step up to corral the guard, or risk giving Ayton a clean runway to the rim for a lob.

That synergy powered Phoenix to the 2021 NBA Finals and another deep run in 2022, where they fell in Game 7 of the West Semis to none other than Ayton’s now-teammate, Luka Doncic.

Fast-forward to today, and Ayton’s in a situation that could again unlock his ceiling. He doesn’t just have one generational setup man- he has two, in LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Both excel at manipulating defenses and rewarding bigs who roll hard or find gaps in coverage.

And Ayton’s game isn’t one-dimensional. During the Suns’ peak years alongside Paul and Devin Booker, he posted the best true shooting marks of his career- .653 in 2020–21 and .656 in 2021–22. With elite playmakers feeding him and the occasional chance to work from the post, Ayton has already proven he can thrive in a system with multiple All-NBA talents.

The real impact of his fit will become clear when he plays alongside Doncic and James. That’s when his role as a pick-and-roll target, rim-running lob threat with a solid mid-range game will become clear. For now, Ayton lies in wait, knowing that as the superstars come back, his numbers will follow.

Deandre Ayton Shifts Focus to Defense, Silencing Old Criticisms

Deandre Ayton leaned into a part of his game that most have downplayed in recent years: defense. Ayton told reporters, “I wanted to show the team I’m more committed on the defensive end … I had fun … being that anchor,” making it clear that today’s performance was about establishing his effort on defense, something that many critics have said he has lacked in the past.

Ayton has always had concerns about his motor, even coming into the 2018 Draft, and his lack of effort on the defensive end at times in Phoenix and Portland was attributed to this. However, his best defensive years statistically came alongside high-IQ players such as Chris Paul and Devin Booker, under Monty Williams- with at least 3.0 defensive win shares from 2020-23; before getting traded to the Portland Trail Blazers.

So, cultivating a competitive edge, like coach JJ Redick said in a pre-game interview, will help him use his already present tools effectively on defense.

Ayton also highlighted that today was an opportunity for him to learn alongside the team. He pointed to the importance of “terminology” and “just be on and off and create from our defense.” He’s set to be the premier interior presence for the Lakers, and these preseason matchups serve as dry runs for his chemistry.