It took less than one game for Los Angeles Lakers fans to find their new whipping boy. And this time, they may be justified.
The team’s biggest offseason signing, Deandre Ayton, stumbled badly in his debut — a 119–109 loss to the Golden State Warriors that raised early questions about his fit alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Ayton posted 10 points, six rebounds, and one block on seven shots across 34 minutes. The numbers looked fine. The film didn’t.
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A Troubling First Impression
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Facing a smaller Warriors lineup, Ayton failed to impose his size or energy. He was outworked by Draymond Green on the glass and looked hesitant when matched with Jonathan Kuminga inside. His struggles extended beyond rebounding — he appeared lost in multiple pick-and-roll coverages and misfired on key reads with Reaves.
After the game, Ayton admitted as much.
“Today I realized, I’m probably a confusing big,” Ayton said. “There’s times when I can finish my roll, and it’s just—we’ve got to play some more. Playing against great teams like tonight really shows what we’ve got to adjust.”
That self-awareness was notable, but it didn’t mask the familiar pattern: a gifted big man with tools to dominate who too often disappears within the flow.
Dončić Takes the Blame
Dončić didn’t shy from responsibility, saying he needs to “do a better job” of integrating Ayton into the offense.
“Just talking to him, like what I want, what he wants,” Dončić said. “Today was on me, not getting him enough touches. Gotta help him.”
It’s an admirable gesture, but Ayton’s reputation precedes him. Questions about his motor and defensive consistency have followed him from Phoenix to Portland — and now, apparently, to Los Angeles.
Growing Pains or Deeper Concern?
To his credit, Ayton accepted some defensive accountability.
“It was on me in some possessions,” he said. “I should have talked more or blitzed early.”
Still, with LeBron James sidelined, the Lakers needed Ayton to play like a foundational piece, not a passenger. Whether his chemistry with Dončić improves or his old habits resurface could define how long the honeymoon lasts in Los Angeles.
The Lakers visit Minnesota next — and Ayton’s second impression might matter even more than his first.
