Deandre Ayton Reveals How ‘Trolling’ Unlocked LA’s Best Game

Deandre Ayton is about as much of a fan favorite as you can get on previous stops. The Phoenix Suns sent him for depth pieces. The Portland Trail Blazers decided it was worth buying him out. And through his first game or so as a member of his newest team, Los Angeles Lakers, fans have already started to give up on himciting effort issues and general lethargy on the field.

But the Lakers need him now more than ever; with Luka Doncic joining LeBron James on the mend and Gabe Vincent looks like he’s on his way for a multi-game absence, the Purple and Gold need someone to step in for Austin Reeves. That’s exactly what Ayton did Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings, when he had his best game as a Laker, dropping 22 points, 15 boards, a steal and a block in a 127-120 victory.

Reaves just needed someone to take some of the offensive load off him in the midst of his career best outing with 51 pointsand Aiton brought relief. It looks like the Lakers are trolling Ayton worksas the team’s starting center admitted that the negative motivation he receives from his teammates annoys him to the point where he simply wants to be the best on the field at all times.

“They try to break me before these games, just to get me going. … This is the thing you all want to do. You all want to get me fired up. You all want me fired up. I like it. … They’re always messing with me, just talking to me. … It’s just trolling. They love my reactions out there. But, I’m keeping myself out. But, I’m staying out of me. It’s just making me play hard when it counts now,” Ayton said. in his postgame presser, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“They try to cut me off before these games, just to get me to play. Deandre Ayton, after putting up 22 points and 15 rebounds against the Kings, explains how his teammates sometimes ‘troll’ him to piss him off. He says it helps him work better and shows they care. pic.twitter.com/5gkvDmaTMB

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 27, 2025

Has Deandre Ayton found his style for the Lakers?

Ayton’s stock was at an all-time low, making him available to the Lakers to sign on the mid-level exception. (He didn’t even get their entire MLE.) But there might be no better place for him to rebuild his value, now that he’s playing alongside three exceptional playmakers in Doncic, James and Reaves.

It may be a revenge match for Ayton; The Lakers will face the Portland Trail Blazers tomorrow night for the second straight set, and the matchup will be personal for the 27-year-old big man.