Los Angeles Lakers DeAndre Ayton Gushes About Playing With Luka Doncic
The Los Angeles Lakers made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason by acquiring superstar Luka Doncic, and the early returns are already generating excitement in Hollywood. While preseason wins and losses mean little, the on-court chemistry between Doncic and the team’s new center, DeAndre Ayton, has been a major storyline. Ayton, in particular, has been vocal about his experience playing alongside the Slovenian phenom, and his recent comments offer a glowing endorsement of Doncic’s talent and leadership.
Los Angeles Lakers DeAndre Ayton On Luke Doncic: “That’s What Great Players Do”
After a preseason game against the Phoenix Suns where Doncic put up 25 points and 7 rebounds in just 22 minutes, DeAndre Ayton couldn’t hide his admiration. For Ayton, who has spent the last couple of seasons in Portland without a high-level, veteran point guard, playing with Doncic is a return to the kind of easy offense he enjoyed with Chris Paul in Phoenix.
“I’m going to be honest, the dude made crazy shots,” Ayton praised after the game. “He draws fouls, and he makes your teammates better. He puts you in that spotlight where you’re wide open. There you go. What are you going to do with it? That’s what great players do.”
Ayton’s comments highlight the “Luka effect”—Doncic’s innate ability to manipulate defenses and create high-quality scoring opportunities for everyone on the floor. After years in Portland where he was often asked to create his own offense, Ayton is now paired with one of the best playmakers in the world. In their preseason debut, Doncic connected with Ayton for a lob, a play that Lakers fans should get used to seeing. Ayton is an elite lob threat, and Doncic is a master of the pick-and-roll. It’s a partnership that seems tailor-made for success.
“Eyes on the Back of His Head”
Beyond just creating easy dunks for his center, Doncic’s court vision has left a major impression on Ayton. The center described Doncic’s uncanny ability to see the entire floor and make passes that seem almost impossible.
“I feel like he’s got eyes on the back of his head,” Ayton added. “He was finding guys in the weak-side corners. I thought the pass was for me, but I’m ducking my head for the pass to get to the corner. That was really fun seeing how he starts to do his Luka-magic in those situations.”
This observation is critical because it speaks to the ripple effect of the Doncic-Ayton pick-and-roll. As defenses collapse to prevent the lob to Ayton, Doncic has the foresight and skill to find open shooters on the perimeter. The Lakers have surrounded their stars with capable catch-and-shoot threats like Austin Reaves, Jake LaRavia, and Rui Hachimura. Doncic’s playmaking will put these players in prime position to knock down open shots, creating a multi-layered offense that is incredibly difficult to defend.
This dynamic also takes a significant amount of pressure off LeBron James. For the first time in his career, the offense will not revolve entirely around him. With Doncic running the show, James can pick his spots, operate as a secondary playmaker, and conserve energy for the defensive end and late-game situations.
What This Partnership Means for the Lakers
The immediate chemistry between Doncic and Ayton is arguably the most important development of the Lakers’ preseason. A dominant pick-and-roll duo is a foundational element of many championship-level offenses, and this pairing has the potential to be one of the best in the NBA.
An Unstoppable Offense
With Doncic’s elite playmaking and Ayton’s looming presence as a roll man, defenses will be forced to make difficult choices. If they commit to stopping the lob, they leave shooters open. If they stay home on the shooters, they give Ayton a clear path to the rim. This offensive gravity makes everyone around them better, just as Ayton described. The floor will be more spaced, shots will be less contested, and the entire offense will flow more freely.
A New Era for Ayton
For DeAndre Ayton, this is a chance to re-establish himself as one of the league’s premier centers. In Phoenix, he thrived as a finisher alongside Chris Paul. In Los Angeles, he gets to play with another all-time great playmaker in Luka Doncic. This partnership will allow Ayton to focus on what he does best: finish at the rim, rebound, and protect the paint. After two seasons in a less-than-ideal situation in Portland, Ayton is now in a position to maximize his talents on a championship contender.
Championship Aspirations
Ultimately, the comments are more than just one player praising another; they are a sign that the Lakers’ biggest offseason gamble is already paying off. The connection between the team’s new superstar duo is real and has the potential to elevate the Lakers from a playoff team to a true title favorite. As Ayton put it, Doncic’s “Luka-magic” is back in a big market, and the entire league is now on notice.
