Deandre Ayton made it clear he heard the message.
After being called out by JJ Redick earlier in the week, the Los Angeles Lakers center responded with both his play and his words following Thursday’s 119-103 win over the Golden State Warriors.
“I feel like when I’m not doing what I’m supposed to do, it’s contagious,” Ayton said. “I’m hard on myself, especially when JJ is upset… I take pride in that.”
The performance backed it up.
Ayton finished with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, five rebounds and a block in 31 minutes, delivering his most efficient outing since the All-Star break.
Ayton Embraces Accountability After Redick’s Call-Out
Ayton’s response came less than 48 hours after Redick publicly challenged him following a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“He’s having trouble catching the ball,” Redick said earlier in the week. “We ran a bunch of plays for him. He’s just had trouble catching the ball.”
Rather than push back, Ayton leaned into the criticism.
“I’m one of those guys he is definitely talking to,” Ayton said. “I take pride in that.”
The exchange highlighted the expectations placed on Ayton, particularly as the Lakers adjust to a depleted lineup.
Lakers Lean on Ayton With Stars Sidelined
With Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) out, Ayton has been asked to take on a larger offensive role.
The transition has not been seamless.
During the Lakers’ recent three-game losing streak, Ayton averaged just 8.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in fewer than 20 minutes per game.
Thursday’s performance, however, showed a shift.
Over the last three games since Dončić and Reaves went down, Ayton is averaging 12.3 points and 4.0 rebounds while seeing increased involvement in the offense.
Third-Quarter Surge Highlights Ayton’s Impact
The Lakers made a deliberate effort to feature Ayton against Golden State, particularly in the third quarter.
“He played fantastic,” Redick said. “The third quarter he was just dominant… I thought he played fantastic throughout the game.”
Ayton capitalized on post opportunities and mid-range looks, using his size and touch to exploit defensive mismatches.
His efficiency helped the Lakers generate consistent offense, with all five starters finishing in double figures.
Veteran Support Reinforces Confidence
Ayton’s performance also drew praise from Udonis Haslem during the NBA on Prime broadcast.
“I want you to know that you are still the guy,” the former Miami Heat captain said. “Don’t change the way you view yourself.”
The message aligned with Ayton’s mindset as he adjusted to increased responsibility.
Lakers Eye Homecourt Advantage in Playoffs
The win improved the Lakers to 51-29 as they continue to battle for playoff positioning in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles remains in a tight race with the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 seed and is also tied with the Houston Rockets for the No. 4 spot, which carries homecourt advantage in the first round.
With only a few games remaining, consistency from players like Ayton has become increasingly important.
Ayton didn’t avoid the criticism. He owned it.
And for one night, at least, he answered it — with both his words and his play.
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