Deandre Ayton’s introductory press conference with the Los Angeles Lakers | NBA on ESPN

Deandre Ayton’s introductory press conference with the Los Angeles Lakers | NBA on ESPN

Ready? Yeah, I’m ready. Hey, DeAndre, can you just walk us through the the last couple of weeks for you as you’ve narrowed your decision down and why you ended up making the the move to come here? Um, honestly, um, I want to say first, thanks to the Portland Trailblazers. um you know great organization as well and you know um it wasn’t tough you know making this decision but you know just taking my time and embracing you know being a free agent and just learning how this thing works properly and you know um the teams that me and my agents evaluated during that time span I felt that Lakers was the best fit you know being around the two best playmakers in the league and just you know Laker Nation you know just having a fan base is you know just behind them is insane. I’ve never seen before. And just to be a part of it, knowing that the winning legacy that this organization has, I know the expectations and I know that winning is a lot. It means a lot here. Yeah. Imagine just referring to Luca and LeBron and kind of what a big man like you, how that could optimize your game. How do you think that could work on the court and what have you seen from them over the years? I mean completely. You mean they all they both averaged about nine assists over their career span and you know just the type of players they create with their teammates you know um you know uh they they turn them into superstars and you know they make them bigger than their roles and make them very important on the floor as well. And you know, just seeing that and you know, finally getting the chance to go in and experience that would be big for me. And you know, just get me back to my full form how I used to play and you know, just coming up and just being a part of the finals is um it’s those playmakers that I’m used to being around having around me that’s leading to wins. Yeah, you the place for your time there. last two years. I think your teams there want to combine 57 wins and you played in Phoenix where you have a 60 plus win team. You made the NBA finals another season. Uh by being in Portland, did did you kind of miss that winning environment in any sense? And do you feel like being with this Lakers team coming off a 50 win season, coming off the third seed in the Western Conference uh standings, you could, you know, kind of bring more of your game to to a group that has set eyes set on winning? Yeah, most definitely. you know, um, Portland Trailblazers, they had a different route and, you know, me, I wanted to be in a winning situation and, you know, when my agents and I finally got a chance and free agency just to finally evaluate, I felt like Lakers was the best position, you know, they want to win a championship right now and, you know, I want to win right now. I was want to just be a part of a winning legacy and just be around winners. And, um, everyone say it was um, it was something difficult to think about. you know, it just brings me back to where, you know, playing with the Suns and being a part of being a part of a winning organization, winning, you know, once you win, everything’s easy really. And that’s what I wanted to be a part of again. And the last two years was just a different route for me. And I just learned a lot that, you know, when you don’t win in this league, you could be forgotten. And, you know, I’m just glad um Laker Nationh welcomed me with open arms. mentioned LeBron and Luca in a previous answer. Just how much have you been able to speak with them if at all since it was clear that you’re going to join the Lakers? Yeah. Um spoke with Luca for a little bit. Um you know, I’m pretty sure they’re all busy this off seasonason. I know Luca is handling his thing in Europe right now, but you know, just quick follow and things like that. um just saying hello and just checking in. Dre time turner. When you hear critics say that about questions you about increasing your max potential playing at a high level consistently would that motivate you more and how you kind of use that plan for the Lakers now? Most definitely. Um it it fuels me. It fuels me up completely and you know um it’s a different type of drive that I’ve been wanting to express for a long time and um I think this is the perfect timing you know here in the purple and gold and just to is a platform that I I cannot run from you know I can show what I show what I really am and just be around some greats to really emphasize that for me as well and you know um yeah it is a lot of fuel in me you know to prove the whole world around there a lot of shoes to fill and you know about all the guys that have been here what they’ve done one of those guys as well the LA Lakers I’ve been watching him all the time I was younger as well and just knowing the greats one of the greats I do know is Shaquille O’Neal growing up um I had a good relationship with him as a child growing up playing for uh EBL teams me and his son Shere O’Neal and you know I’ve created that relationship with him and you know playing in the playoffs getting to talk to him it’s like big hunk, you know, and you know how he had my back when I was um winning as well. And you know, just just having that here is is pretty cool. DeAndre, you’ve been one of the most efficient pick finishers, just finishers in general the last few seasons. How do you envision your twoman chemistry? Um should be quite fun. Um me uh I like to let my ball handlers do what they do and you know they they lead me to do the rest. And you know Luca is he’s black and white in the pick and roll. You know um he’s he puts so much pressure on the rim. You know you have to be be willing to finish above the rim and just finish your roles and you know just do your part. Um I think I’ve got a little cheat code you know playing with the playmakers. I played with it in my passing coming into the league and I’m pretty aware of, you know, how to get guys open and know either to play in the pocket or roll straight to the rim. But it’s all about putting pressure on the rim and you know, finishing at a high level. And you know, that’s where, you know, I think they’ll really emphasize, you know, the pick and roll because they’re great passers as well. And, you know, the type of guys they are, you know, it puts them in the bind just playing that cat and mouse game in the pick and roll. Mark, good to see you. Um, what do you think it will take to play to your max potential but also knowing you fit the name of the players type? I’m already here. This platform I’m on the the the organization, the team, the coaches, the opportunity I got. Um, it’s it won’t take nothing. I’m already here. It’s already took its place. I’m already here talking to you guys representing the LA Lakers. With with that in mind, the idea Deandre of playing to your maximum potential, where where are the areas in your game that you feel most determined to grow as a player? Mainly just protecting that rim as much as possible. You know, closing out possessions and really just leading these things to buckets. Every pick and roll I said is a strong screen. When I roll to the rim, I’m rolling to the rim aggressively. You know, just really emphasizing the thing the team wants. was my role in just really playing hard at it. Yeah. Just kind of wondering in your mind kind of look forward to this season. Are you you picture yourself as part of a big three type thing with LeBron and Luca or is it more you feel you’re more kind of coming here to just kind of play a role? I leave that up to you guys. I mean I leave that up to you guys. You know, I’m just here to be a part of the puzzle. I’m here to fit in what Luca and JJ and Brown wants me to do. That’s about it. you’ve been asked a couple questions about kind of the the motor so to speak. Do you think those questions have been fair and if not uh you know what part of you do you think people have misunderstood? Um I feel like you know at the end of the day I’m on the court I’m supposed to perform and you know um it’s just different routes of organizations whether you want to win or not and you know I’ve just tooken my route where I want to win and you know when you comes to wins it’s like you play hard to when you know when you know everybody goal is to win you know you do everything you supposed to do or you can do to win. DeAndre you said you’ve learned a lot. What’s the biggest that you’ve learned in your last two stops that you want to take here? Um, true professionalism. You know, I feel like, um, I just been absent for a little bit in this league and, you know, um, you know, hard work. I just been trying to put in much work as I possibly can. And, you know, um, when I’m on the floor, I just really want to just show the world and just prove everybody that I am a winner. And, you know, um, any position I’m in, I just want to really win and sacrifice the way I did coming into this league. Yeah. having been the number one pick in the draft and coming in the same year as Luca. Your guys names have been connected ever since you step forth foot on NBA court. Just what do you think about the uh turn of events that now you guys get to be teammates and maybe you won’t hear that noise quite so much because you guys are on the same page. Yeah, it’s feel like a video game like somebody set it up. I think somebody set this up but like honestly it’s it’s an opportunity I won’t take for granted. You know, Luca is a once in a generation player and I’m happy to be his teammate. Um, hearing how much shape he’s been in, he’s super rip and I’m finally glad to be on his side. You know, when he’s while he’s doing all of that and know, I’m just truly excited. You know, I’m a student of the game and, you know, I love to play with a passion and, you know, the love I’ve received and I’ve not even threw on a jersey yet is, you know, I can only show you guys my my appreciation. Thanks everyone. Thank you. Thank you.

Watch as Deandre Ayton addresses the media for the first time as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

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