Newest Laker Deandre Ayton is ready to prove doubters wrong

Deandre Ayton held his hands in his pockets, his entirely black outfit – from tie costume, shirt and shoes – a measured look for the new member of the Lakers. His eyes were mainly broken while he answered questions about how he will adapt to the team and how he is led to prove that his self -opinions are wrong.

In many ways, Ayton fell to the Lakers after being bought from his contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, opening the door to accept a contract of $ 16.6 million over two years.

The two seasons he spent with the Trail Blazers were not as good as the time he was in Phoenix. Its production fell. The number of games he played dropped.

This led to the story that Ayton was not up to his potential. That he played fairly regularly at a high level. That it does not give the best of efforts all the time.

When Ayton was initiated into the media on Tuesday, he failed the criticism.

It is a 7 -foot center that Lakers need to be at its best at any time this season.

“Most certainly. It eats me,” said Ayton about criticism. “It feeds me completely. And it is a different type of reader that I wanted to express for a long time. I think it’s perfect timing, here in purple and gold. And it’s a platform I can’t run.

“I can show what I really am and be with big ones to really highlight this for me too. It’s a lot of fuel in me to prove to the whole world. ”

Ayton only played 40 games last season for the Trail Blazers, missing a lot because of a calf injury. He has an average of 14.4 points per game. During the 2023-24 season with Portland, he collected an average of 16.7 points in 55 games.

These two seasons lacked what Ayton did with the Suns in 2022-23, when he collected on average 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds.

Ayon was asked if the questions were just about his engine.

“I have the impression that at the end of the day, I am on the field and I am supposed to play,” he said. “These are just different routes with organizations, whether you wanted to win or not. I just took my itinerary where I want to win. Regarding victories, you play hard when you know that everyone’s goal is to win. You do everything you are supposed to do or do to win.…

“I just tried to work as much as possible.

Ayton will have Luka Doncic and LeBron James to help him push and, hope, to type more of his potential.

Doncouic collected an average of 8.1 assists per game last season and James collected an average of 7.8 assists.

“They are both around nine assists during their career period, and just the type of players they create with their teammates,” said Ayton. “They transform them into superstars, they make them larger than their roles, they make them very important on the ground. I just see that and finally have the chance to go and an experience that would be great for me. [NBA] Finals. These are the playmakers that I used to have around me who lead to victories. »»

The Lakers also presented Jake Laravia to the media. He played a season with the Sacramento Kings, with an average of 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists. It pulled 47.5% in the field and 42.3% of the three -point beach.