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Deandre Ayton is so excited about playoffs he wants 'to do backflips'
TL;DR
Deandre Ayton is thrilled to return to the NBA playoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers after missing the previous two seasons. He expressed his excitement and eagerness to contribute significantly against the Houston Rockets.
Key points
- Deandre Ayton missed playoffs with the Portland Trail Blazers.
- He is excited to play for the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs.
- Ayton aims to contribute significantly against the Houston Rockets.
Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail BlazersHouston RocketsDeandre Ayton
The previous couple of seasons weren't good ones for Deandre Ayton. During the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, he missed the NBA playoffs as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, and he was criticized for a number of things, including allegedly selfish behavior and a lack of dedication.
But with the Los Angeles Lakers, he's about to return to the playoffs, and he can play a big role in the first round against the Houston Rockets, who boast a big lineup that includes two-time All-Star center Alperen Sengun. Ayton will be needed to not only be a scoring threat, but also to bang hard on the boards and defend the paint.
Following practice on Wednesday, he made it clear how excited he is for the playoffs to start.
“You’re thinking about the environment, you think about the fans, thinking about the first game as a Laker in the playoffs,” Ayton said. “So, I just try to find some time to catch myself and gather and just relax. I’ve been here before, but I am truly excited. I want to do backflips. I’m in the Purple and Gold, and I just want to really just play hard as hell to contribute to wins.”
In last year's playoffs, the Lakers got destroyed on the boards by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but they were very weak at the center position at the time. Now, they have Ayton, who has career averages of 15.8 points and 10.1 rebounds a game in the regular season and has put up 15.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in three trips to the postseason.
This season, his numbers went down to 12.5 points and eight rebounds per game, but it must be remembered that he was a much less featured player than he was in the past with Portland and the Phoenix Suns. However, as long as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are out due to injury, Los Angeles will need to feature Ayton as much as reasonably possible, especially when it has nothing in transition.
Plenty of Lakers fans have been hard on Ayton this season and considered him to be a disappointment. He has the opportunity to reverse that sentiment over the next two weeks or so.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Deandre Ayton is so excited about playoffs he wants 'to do backflips'
Q&A
Why did Deandre Ayton miss the playoffs in previous seasons?
Deandre Ayton missed the playoffs during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons while with the Portland Trail Blazers, facing criticism for alleged selfish behavior and lack of dedication.
What role will Deandre Ayton play in the playoffs against the Houston Rockets?
Ayton is expected to be a key player for the Lakers, contributing as a scoring threat and providing crucial defense against the Rockets' big lineup.
How does Deandre Ayton feel about playing for the Lakers in the playoffs?
Ayton is extremely excited about playing for the Lakers in the playoffs, expressing a desire to contribute hard and even wanting to do backflips due to his enthusiasm.
