Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick offered some plaudits for Deandre Ayton during the team’s 118-116 win against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. The former No. 1 overall pick had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks on 9-for-13 shooting from the field in 33 minutes of action.
But more than his statistical contributions, Ayton was praised for his defense and energy, especially during the final quarter, earning the trust of his head coach.
“I think he has played phenomenal all season. He’s had a phenomenal start to the year. He has embraced his teammates. He has embraced his role. He’s sacrificed, in terms of just being a screener and getting his guys open. He’s finding his spots. He’s just in a really comfortable rhythm right now,” Redick said of Ayton via Lakers Nation.
“He’s doing a lot of stuff, pointing to the defense in the 4th quarter, he was a big part of that, the help-side blocks, the one-on-one blocks. And it’s been really fun to watch him blossom over the last three weeks,” he added.
Los Angeles Lakers News: Deandre Ayton lauds the team’s chemistry and culture amid superb start
Deandre Ayton is off to a strong start as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, and the 27-year-old center credited head coach JJ Redick for setting the culture to help him thrive.
“I give my hats off to JJ (Redick). JJ and the staff have just been pushing us regardless (of) who’s out there. They’ve been doing it since I got here from training camp, from the months I’ve been in the summer in the gym. He’s been the same guy,” Ayton said via Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation.
“And he’s just been every day just drilling it in our heads, having that championship mentality, championship shape, championship communication. That’s our motto, and that’s what we’ve been going by. It’s super contagious. The guys who are out, they work their way up to come back and play, come in the lineup and it’s like they never left,” he added.
