Deandre Ayton Talks About the Opportunity to Play Alongside Lebron & Luka | Lakers Media Day 2025

Deandre Ayton Talks About the Opportunity to Play Alongside Lebron & Luka | Lakers Media Day 2025

Hello. Hey, DeAndre. Uh, right in front of you. The last time we spoke to you was a I guess a couple of months ago now. Just wondered what that time has been like for you as you’ve talked to your new teammates, to your coach to and just how that’s made you think about your role entering this season. Um, I’m truly excited to be here. You know, um, everything counts and you could feel the pressure through the door. Um, you know, this team wants to win the championship. DeAndre, maybe one of the best moments or stretches in your career was playing pick and roll with with Chris Paul. Um, what are you looking forward to when it comes to playing pick and roll with Luca Donuch? And how big of a part of your job with this team do you think that specific role is going to be? Um, you know, I’ve proven myself that, you know, I I dominate best with playmakers and, you know, I’m I’m here once again and um I’m much older now and the the game is much easier to me and, you know, just playing alongside Luca is going to make a lot of things easier. You know, um, you know, it’s the true nature of the game and um, we’re here just to emphasize that even more. You mentioned the word pressure. Is there a sense of you that you need to prove that pressure is not a big deal for you? You can handle this situation coming up? Honestly, pressure is a privilege and you know, I’m in the right place to be where, you know, um, everything counts and the fans wants us to win and, you know, I’m here to just add to that legacy on bringing a title here. You’re going to win with the LA Times. Speaking to that legacy, especially here at this franchise, what does it mean to you to be wearing this jersey and the pressure of this city specifically? Like I said, pressure is a privilege and you know, just to be in this environment and this city that, you know, holds as a unit that really cherish this organization. Um, you know, it’s it’s hard not it’s like black and white. It’s hard not to, you know, tell what what they going for and what’s the goal. And, um, you know, I don’t make it too complicated. You know, just staying in the gym every day and just staying consistent, proving to the organization and my teammates, you know, that I’m ready to do it. DeAndre, what have you learned about JJ as a coach just over the past couple of months since signing with the team and his coaching style? Um, he’s very straightforward. Um, you know, he’s serious in what he says he meant and that’s about it. Um, he didn’t really say too much. It was just more like, you know, just handling our our team workouts the right way and just us being on time and doing what we’re supposed to do to get ready for training camp. DeAndre, you’ve been the primary rim protector on a team that made the finals. Um, how do you see your skill set defensively fitting in with this group and with JJ’s scheme? Well, now, um, all pressure is on me and, um, I’m a little older now. You know, like I said, um the times where I was the only big and protecting the rim, I just I was pretty inconsistent and, you know, didn’t really know the tricks and trade of the game really, especially playing that high of a level. And now it’s just, you know, terminology where I can meet with Kate on the court and just know where I’m at on the floor and just controlling the game from the get-go. Um is it’s is it’s much easier now because I’m competing and I’m want to compete every night. So, it’s it’s way better now. Hey, DeAndre. Over here on your right. On your right. Hey. Um, this is kind of the first time in your career that you’ve gotten to choose your own destiny to a degree. I was just wondering like what that experience was like for you, what that decision-making process was like for you, and if it gives you any sort of sense of invigoration, I guess, that you chose to be here. It’s intentional, and you kind of get to choose your own adventure from this point forward. Yeah, it was an opportunity that I know for sure I wasn’t going to take for granted. You know, like everybody said, pressure, yes, is is what I wanted. You know, waking up every day knowing that it’s it’s counted and, you know, knowing that I’m a part of a legacy that wants to win a championship. um being around guys and great you know great athletes like Luca and LeBron just you know embracing that and you know just you know feeling that aura and just you know being a part of it and not taking it for granted you know it makes me want to work even harder you know and you know just helping me embrace it embrace everything even more DeAndre right um just looking at the offseason were there specific things that were important to you whether in your game once you decided also to come to the acres, how you could just fit in so seamlessly. Yeah. Um, just being consistent and sharpening my tools, sharpening my game, you know, getting ready for whatever role they want me to play. If they want me to score, rebound, protect the rim, no matter what it is, I’m ready to do it. Hey, DeAndre, what’s your history with LeBron from growing up watching him as a kid to being in the NBA against him to now getting to be his teammate? Well, growing up watching him, I always thought of him as a leader. you know, I always looked at him, how he every team he went to, how he led teams that made guys great. And, you know, that was his goal. One of his goals, he even um have it in the interview I used to watch through high school, just you know, him just wanting to lead and him being that leader and you know, obviously being uh a compet competing against him throughout my career. You know, it was always like a movie playing against Bronn and you know, now that I’m his teammate, you know, it’s just it’s just surreal. It’s just, you know, you here and, you know, talking basketball and, you know, being next to him and Luca is, yeah, it’s is not a dream no more. DeAndre, um, fair or not, your the perception of you, your reputation around the league, taking a little bit of a hit over the last couple seasons. How much do you look at this year as a as an opportunity to sort of change that conversation? Um, it’s the biggest opportunity I can say of my career. Um, you know, some people say it’s my last leg, some people say it’s my last chance. Um, well, this the opportunity I can say I’m truly not going to take for granted. And, you know, um, it’s it’s almost like a wounded animal, you know. Um, I feel I feel all the tension and I know I know where I’m at. I’ve been in the gym every day and like I said, I’m somewhere where it counts now and I’m happy that everybody get to see it and I’m happy where as a player as myself, I get to, you know, get a chance to prove to prove something big on a big stage. Hey DA, as a follow to that, uh what has been the messaging uh specifically around that narrative to you from LeBron and Luca heading into the season? What is it like entering into all of that having them to lean on? I mean, I feel like everybody here have something to prove in a in a big way. And you know, the chips is on all of our shoulders in a way. And not to say this is the Lakers and you know, the expectations are pretty high and you know, every night is competing to the best of our abilities and doing what we can to bring and add to this legacy. DA, I wonder with you and Luca, uh, do you guys have some shared energy when it comes to having a chip on your shoulder right now? I mean, you’ve got the history of the draft, history with the agency, uh, in the last couple years that you’ve had. Is that something where y’all connect in terms of trying to prove some folks wrong right now? Yeah. Um yeah, only Ashkins can show, you know, um you know, you see how much work he’s put in to see where he’s at and you know how he’s really be, you know, really just embrace being a true professional and you know, showing and telling what he’s about changing his whole body and his mindset and you know me, hey guys have an angry at you know where you know I’ve been disrespected most of my career and just you know been doubted and I’m here where all is at behind me And you know, um, I can add all that fuel into into winning and playing alongside Luca. DeAndre, um, what’s the mental challenge for you to play along playing alongside Luca and LeBron? Huh? What’s the mental challenge for you to play alongside Luca and LeBron? Um, I don’t know. uh the mental challenge. I don’t know. I’m just embracing every opportunity. You know, like I said, um there’s nothing I’m not ready for because I’ve been in the gym consistently just, you know, preparing and just, you know, waiting for my opportunity to come. It just so happens I’m here on the Lakers on the biggest stage and honestly, I’m just embracing everything. Just adding to the puzzle and just want to just contribute the best way I can. I can’t.

Deandre Ayton speaks to the media about the opportunity to play with Lebron James and Luka Dončić.

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