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The Los Angeles Lakers just signed Deandre Ayton to a two-year contract worth just over $16 million. He'll step in as the starting center and have the opportunity to bounce back from an injury-filled season with the Portland Trail Blazers. At the very least, he seems excited about playing alongside Luka Doncic, as Ayton revealed what it feels like to call Doncic his teammate.
Ayton, who is 26 years old, admitted that having Doncic as his teammate is like living in a video game, according to insider Mark Medina. With the Lakers finding a way to acquire Deandre Ayton in free agency, the 7-foot center feels as though the move is reminiscent of the franchise mode in NBA2K.
“Deandre Ayton on getting to team up with Luka Doncic: ‘It feels like a video game. This is an opportunity I won't take for granted.'”
In a further statement with ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Ayton praised Doncic for his skills on the court and expressed how excited he is to play alongside the 26-year-old guard. Considering that both players are the same age, there is a chance the Lakers have found a future long-term duo.
“Luka is a once-in-a-generation player, and I'm happy to be his teammate,” said Deandre Ayton. “Hearing about the kind of shape he's been in, he's super ripped, and I'm finally glad to be on his side.”
Although Ayton only played in 40 games last season, he proved to be rather consistent when healthy. He's more of an offensive-minded center, and that showed during his two-year stint in Portland. Deandre Ayton ended the 2024-25 campaign averaging 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. He also averaged 1.0 blocks per contest while shooting 56.6% from the floor and 66.7% from the charity stripe.
The Lakers are rumored to be more focused on building for the long term, but based on the roster, the team should be competitive next season. Deandre Ayton himself even expressed a desire to win a championship in L.A. after signing his contract. We'll see how it plays out, but with Ayton, Doncic, and LeBron James all on the same team, Los Angeles is primed for a possible playoff run next season.
