Kendrick Perkins goes scorched earth on Deandre Ayton

Former NBA center Kendrick Perkins presented a rough assessment of Deandre Ayton on the latest episode of The Road Trippin’ podcast, criticizing Los Angeles Lakers the recent game of the center and questioning his effort level on the floor.

Perkins, who spent 14 seasons in the NBA and won a championship with Boston in 2008, didn’t hold back when discussing Ayton’s performances during his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“The crap I’m witnessing from him right now is unnerving to watch him on the floor. He’s not doing anything athletically, he’s not going to rush the basketball, he’s not going to put in the extra effort — like I just don’t get it. Sooner or later, if I’m going up against 10 people and I have a problem with 10 people, I have a problem with 10 people. People, it’s a damn problem, sooner or later, I’ve got to go check it out.

Perkins later added a humorous but pointed observation while referencing former Cleveland Cavaliers teammates Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye, who both played alongside LeBron James during their careers.

“And just watching him, his body language… I could tell you this: we all played with LeBron James, boy, I know the signs when LeBron’s gone crazy, you don’t even have to tell me. I know the signs and it gets to that point. He just doesn’t play without a damn force. It’s a damn shame.”

“It’s unnerving to watch him on the floor. He doesn’t do anything athletically… He won’t put in the extra effort… If I’m fighting 10 people and 10 people have a problem with me… I have to go check myself.”

Kendrick Perkins on Deandre Ayton 👀pic.twitter.com/2ZDFIhMHs0

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 24, 2026

Deandre Ayton’s recent struggles compound the questions in the Lakers’ frontcourt

Ayton, 27, is averaging 13.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and one block per game while shooting 68.1 percent from the field and 63.6 percent from the free throw line in 38 appearances. He is logging 29.8 minutes per contest in his first season in Los Angeles after arriving with the expectation of stabilizing the Lakers’ interior presence on both ends of the floor.

Recent production, however, has attracted attention. Over his last two games, Ayton averaged four points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 40 percent from the field, playing just 17.7 minutes per game during that stretch. The reduced minutes have coincided with uneven performances from the Lakers’ frontcourt rotation as the team moves into a competitive Western Conference race.

Los Angeles enters the weekend at 26-17, sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference standings after 112-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. The The Lakers will try to answer on Saturday when they travel to face the Dallas MavericksLuka Doncic’s former team, at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

As the season progresses, Ayton’s role and consistency remain central talking points for a Lakers team with postseason ambitions and limited margin for error in a tight conference.