The NBA has always been a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately kind of league, and no team exemplifies this concept better than the 2025-26 Los Angeles Lakers.
Following his rough 10-point, six-rebound, four-turnover debut with the franchise on Tuesday night in a 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles’ key summer signing and new starting center Deandre Ayton was lambasted by Lakers fans and media members, alike.
On Friday night, the 27-year-old big man blocked out the noise and responded, taking complete advantage of his opportunity to show the NBA world that the Lakers were not on the precipice of an 0-82 campaign, and that he could develop chemistry with their play-making guards Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
In a shade under 31 minutes of work against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ayton established his presence and displayed increased aggressiveness while standing opposite of Minnesota’s 4-time Defensive Player of the Year center Rudy Gobert.
Ayton finished the night with an efficient 15 points, eight rebounds and a blocked shot, while Gobert’s immense struggles were evidenced by a pedestrian two-point, seven-rebound, zero-block finish on only two shot attempts.
Los Angeles’ 26-year-old phenom Dončić exploded for 49 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and the team’s rising star offensive initiator Reaves dished out a team-high 11 dimes of his own to pair with seven rebounds and 25 points.
In the second half of the Lakers’ eventual blowout 128-110 victory over Gobert and Minnesota’s 3-time All-Star guard Anthony Edwards, Ayton’s developing bond with both Dončić and Reaves was apparent, as both guards flashed moments of pure elation upon seeing him attack the basket with reckless abandon and finish with thunderous dunks.
The 7-foot center’s lack of dominant rolls to the rim after screening for the Lakers’ passers became a point of contention after his first game donning the purple and gold, and he certainly corrected that issue against the Timberwolves.
Specifically, a ferocious-but-wayward Ayton flush attempt with 9:10 remaining in the third quarter followed by a Rui Hachimura and-one putback layup caught the attention of Reaves, as he appeared to tell Ayton, “That’s what I like to see!”
Ayton’s impressive performance against one of the greatest defensive centers in NBA history might have reeled Lakers fans back in just a bit after the team’s deflating opening-night loss, and he’ll have another chance to stay aggressive and improve upon his connection with Dončić and Reaves on Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings.
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