Deandre Ayton‘s comments about Clint Capela continue to draw attention from the NBA community. Most recently, it was the ‘NBA on Prime’ crew that reacted to the Los Angeles Lakers center name-dropping Clint Capela while complaining about his role on the team.
Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki didn’t like Ayton grumbling about how JJ Redick is utilizing him in his system and also thought it was improper decorum to drag Capela’s name into his gripe, especially since Capela’s had a very respectful career.
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“I don’t love the quote, obviously, from Ayton, for saying they’re trying to make me something I’m not, they wanna make me this roller or whatever. You don’t have to name another NBA player that’s actually having a really solid career. Clint’s been around forever. He’s a super good player,” said Nowitzki.
The Lakers wanted a center in the mold of Capela
Capela was the Rockets’ 25th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and blossomed to be the Rockets’ starting center during the James Harden era. He peaked during the 2018-19 season, averaging 16.6 points and 12.7 rebounds per game.
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The Rockets traded him to the Atlanta Hawks in 2020, and his first season there was the best of his career, as he put up 15.2 points and a league-best 14.3 rebounds per game while finishing 6th in the DPOY voting. He’s since returned to Houston as a backup center, but, at 31, he isn’t getting much playing time.
In his prime, Capela was a vertical threat on offense and a formidable defensive force. With the Lakers losing defensive anchor Anthony Davis to acquire Luka Doncic, they wanted to add a big man in Capela’s mold. But after the Mark Williams trade was rescinded, they ended up adding Ayton last summer.
Adapt or die
Before the start of the season, Ayton said he was willing to do whatever the Lakers needed from him. However, as the season has progressed, he started complaining about his touches and shot attempts. Now, it seems like he wants a role bigger than a “Capela.” Dirk’s co-host, Blake Griffin, gave Ayton a simple warning.
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“Listen, as NBA players, you have to evolve,” said Blake. “You’re playing with Luka Doncic, who gifts centers points every game. Evolve. Figure out a way to be beneficial. Adapt or die. Maybe that’s it.”
Sure, it’s understandable how Ayton felt because he was the No.1 pick in his draft class, where, incidentally, Luka is from. But after he squandered his chance in Phoenix and failed in Portland, he needs to build his stock again. He was lucky that a high-profile team like the Lakers took a chance on him, and it appears that the Purple and Gold are going the extra mile to motivate him. It certainly would not be a surprise to see him underperform and fail to meet the expectations set by the Lakers’ front office.
As soon as the deal to Los Angeles was announced, many were quick to proclaim this was Ayton’s last chance in the NBA. Today, it seems the naysayers were right, as he is on the same inconsistent trajectory he was with the Suns. Perhaps a smarter way for Ayton to move forward would be to look up to Capela and make sure he adds value to the squad without causing unnecessary disruptions to team chemistry, which is the last thing they need.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.