Deandre Ayton is expected to have a great debut season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Deandre Ayton started bonding with his Los Angeles Lakers teammates during the NBA preseason, despite some early struggles.
In limited minutes, Ayton showed what he can do on both ends of the floor. Speaking of which, Rui Hachimura recently gave his honest impressions about Ayton’s skills.
During the regular season, head coach JJ Redick will rely on LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to handle the offensive side of the court.
Ayton will likely be given the role of the team’s defensive anchor. But Hachimura sees no reason for the former No. 1 overall pick to be limited to a single role.
“He has size, as you can see running all over the court. Offense, defense, rebounding, everything, he has size. We can trust him,” Hachimura told the media.
He added: “Defensively, we can put more pressure on the ball. He can always protect the rim. We have a lot of options with him.”
While Hachimura has nothing but praise for the 27-year-old, Ayton’s real test will be playing alongside James and Doncic. If they fail there, Purple and Gold will be in trouble.
Prior to joining the Lakers, Ayton spent two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, but apparently didn’t like playing for the organization.
That was evident when Ayton threw some subtle shade at the Trail Blazers when he praised the intensity of his training with the Lakers.
Additionally, Ayton has complimented his Lakers teammates at every opportunity, showing early signs of great chemistry.
The Lakers’ final preseason game against the Sacramento Kings will give fans a preview of what to expect from Ayton throughout the regular season.