Deandre Ayton’s Lakers debut may not have set the stat sheet on fire, but teammate Austin Reaves isn’t worried, in fact, he’s already focused on helping the big man get comfortable.
In the team’s preseason opener against the Phoenix Suns on October 3, Ayton scored just one point on two field-goal attempts in limited minutes. Despite the quiet showing, Reaves made it clear that patience is key as the 27-year-old learns his role in Los Angeles’ system.
“It’s the same thing as the outlook of the team,” Reaves said after the game. “New organization, there’s a lot he’s got to learn within our system and you can’t grade him off 16-17 minutes of basketball. Obviously, if you watched him play in the past, he’s super skilled, can play both ends, he had a couple really good blocks. We, myself included, have to figure out how to help him a little bit more on the offensive end. Get him the ball where he wants to have it, but that will come in time as we’ve had three practices together. That will all come in time, we’re very excited to have him.”
Ayton’s track record suggests there’s plenty of scoring potential to unlock. The former No. 1 overall pick has averaged 16.4 points per game on 59 percent shooting throughout his career, showing a polished mid-range touch and reliable interior finishing.
The Lakers also played without LeBron James and Luka Doncic in that preseason contest, meaning Ayton had fewer playmaking opportunities around him. With both stars expected back for the regular season opener against Golden State on October 21, his offensive workload should balance out.
For Reaves, the message is simple, the talent is there, it’s just about time and chemistry. And as he put it, the Lakers are “very excited to have him.”
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