The Los Angeles Lakers brought in some new players that they believe will help this team reach the next level and truly become championship contenders. Deandre Ayton was signed to fill the team’s hole at the center position while Marcus Smart will bring perimeter defense and veteran leadership.
Both will be extremely important to the success of this Lakers team this season and the pair are already building a bit of a relationship early on in training camp. When Smart was asked about which players have stood out in training camp so far the guard pointed to Ayton, but not just because of his play on the court.
“I don’t wanna just pick out one because it’s been a lot. But one has been DA,” Smart said after Lakers practice on Thursday. “Deandre he’s been really good, talking to me. Get frustrated or he doesn’t understand some things or understand why things are done this way and just coming to talk to me like ‘Hey, what do I need to do? What do you see?’ And that’s big.
“I know he has had this precursor over his name, but he understands it and he’s ready to put the work in. I’m proud of him and he has stood out in that aspect.”
Ayton came in with a bit of a reputation as being difficult to coach or not really receiving advice too well, but here it sounds as if he is eager to learn and really be able to help this team in all aspects. Some have criticized Ayton already for not standing out offensively, but the big man made it clear that he is more focused on helping the Lakers on the defensive end.
With LeBron James now expected to be out for a month, the Lakers will need a bit more from Ayton on the offensive end and the fact that he has a veteran to turn to in Smart to help him out along the way will only help him be that much more dominant for this team.
Lakers’ Deandre Ayton believes playing with Luka Doncic will make his life easier
Deandre Ayton experienced his best years playing alongside Chris Paul, one of the greatest point guards of all-time, while with the Phoenix Suns. And he believes that will be the case once again playing with Luka Doncic on the Lakers.
“I’ve proven myself that I dominate best with playmakers and I’m here once again,” Ayton said at Lakers Media Day. “I’m much older now and the game is much easier to me and just playing alongside Luka is going to make a lot of things easier. It’s the true nature of the game and we’re here just to emphasize that even more.”
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