Key Highlights
- Shaquille O’Neal gave a blunt message to Deandre Ayton after his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Ayton struggled in his first game, putting up 10 points, six rebounds, one block, and four turnovers across 34 minutes of action.
- O’Neal emphasized the need for Ayton to improve in rebounding, shot blocking, and overall dominance on the court.
- The Lakers acquired Ayton to provide frontcourt depth and vertical threat, paired with Luka Doncic.
Deandre Ayton’s Debut with the Los Angeles Lakers
In his first game in a Lakers uniform, Deandre Ayton struggled to live up to expectations. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft had a performance that was far from impressive, scoring just 10 points and committing four turnovers in 34 minutes of action against the Phoenix Suns.
Shaquille O’Neal, who is a legend with the Lakers, didn’t hesitate to criticize Ayton’s efforts. During an episode of Inside the NBA on ESPN, O’Neal bluntly told Ayton that he needed to step up his game. “Listen Deandre,” O’Neal said, “the performance you had yesterday was terrible, come on, Deaadre, you gotta step it up.”
O’Neal’s Criticism and Expectations
According to O’Neal, Ayton needs to focus on three key areas: rebounding, blocking shots, and dominating the game. “You gotta do three things,” O’Neal stated. “You gotta rebound, block shots, and you gotta dominate.”
O’Neal further elaborated, pointing out that Ayton’s struggles can partly be attributed to playing alongside two great players who get doubled a lot. However, he emphasized the need for Ayton to capitalize on these opportunities better. “When they make the little bounce pass, catch it and throw it down,” O’Neal advised.
O’Neal also highlighted that Ayton is not being double-teamed as much as his experience suggests he should be. He mentioned, “You’re not getting doubled, you have a small guy guarding you in the post, you turn around and shoot a fadeaway, that’s not gonna get it done.” These comments reflect the high expectations placed on Ayton by both O’Neal and the Lakers organization.
Background and Context
The Lakers acquired Deandre Ayton from the Phoenix Suns in an apparent need for frontcourt depth and a vertical lob threat that would complement superstar Luka Doncic. While Ayton has seven years of experience, including a stint with the Phoenix Suns where he made it to the NBA Finals, his performance during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers was described as down.
A calf strain in February 2023 ultimately led to him being sidelined for the rest of the season. Despite this, Ayton is now back with the Lakers, and they are hoping that he can contribute significantly to their roster. His first game highlighted areas where improvement is necessary, according to O’Neal’s candid assessment.
Conclusion
The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Deandre Ayton in an effort to strengthen their frontcourt and pair him with star player Luka Doncic. However, his debut performance was underwhelming, leading Shaquille O’Neal to publicly critique his play. The criticism serves as a wake-up call for Ayton, who will need to address the issues highlighted by O’Neal if he is to live up to the expectations placed upon him.
