Ayton Calms Lakers Fans After Scare vs. Pelicans
So, here’s what’s been going on with the Lakers and Deandre Ayton, because the last game against the Pelicans definitely gave fans a moment of panic. Ayton, who joined the Lakers this summer after the Portland Trail Blazers bought out his contract, has had a pretty interesting start to his time in Los Angeles. He looked great in the preseason, but once the real games began, things slowed down a bit as he adjusted to playing beside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. His early performances were inconsistent enough that even Shaquille O’Neal felt the need to call him out publicly.
Shaq didn’t hold back, either. He basically said, “Look, Deandre, you’ve got the tools, but you need to dominate. Rebound, block shots, and take advantage of mismatches.” And honestly, that message seemed to land. Ayton didn’t hide from the criticism — he embraced it. Over the past stretch of games, he has been playing with noticeably higher energy and confidence, to the point where some Lakers analysts are saying his signing might be the team’s smartest move of the offseason.
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But then came Sunday night. Late in the game against the Pelicans, Ayton suddenly signaled to the bench, clearly uncomfortable. The arena got quiet for a moment as he headed out, and it looked like he might have re-aggravated the knee issue that had already sidelined him earlier in the week. Given how important he has become to this Lakers squad, the timing couldn’t have been worse.
Luckily, the update afterward was surprisingly reassuring. Ayton explained that the knee had simply “cooled down” and that he was feeling fine. It turns out he likely just bumped knees with a Pelicans player — painful, sure, but nothing long-term. He made it clear he expected to be available for the Lakers’ next game, which comes as a major relief considering he has been central to their recent surge in energy and effort.
In short, what looked like a setback has already been smoothed over, and Ayton’s trajectory continues to head in a much more promising direction — not just for him, but for the entire Lakers lineup.
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