DeAndre Ayton had a great start to the season for the Los Angeles Lakers. It felt like he’s finally getting revived playing alongside Luka Doncic. However, his play dipped since December and now, he is becoming a scapegoat for the Lakers struggle.
The Lakers are 4-6 in their last 10 and suffered three straight losses during the writing of this article. Their most recent loss was the most confusing one as it was against the Sacramento Kings who were the Western Conference’s worst team.
Fans think it is time for him to go.
remember when laker fans were calling us haters & delusional about Ayton now look at them niggas 🤣🤣. like we said yall would be ready to trade that trash nigga halfway through the season 😂. pic.twitter.com/DneFtN9hiP
— sᴀɴᴛᴀɴᴀ⁷✰ (@santanawrlld) January 13, 2026
Yeah Mr. DeAndre Ayton… you know what that means… https://t.co/jlYQuG3Qsw pic.twitter.com/gGR6JUTmaI
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) January 13, 2026
DeAndre Ayton experience:
Beg for the basketball, can’t catch the basketball
Gets the basketball, doesn’t use his size to get better positioning… rushes up a brick… gets fouled… misses the free throw
Only constant is his consistent average of going 1.5 MPH all game
— coopz (@Coopz___) January 13, 2026
Why LeBron looking at Ayton like that 😭 pic.twitter.com/VqQqSxGpuo
— 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅 🏆 (@PurpGolded) January 13, 2026
Some even think that Jaxson Hayes is playing better than him.
Tired:
Deandre Ayton was the Best Bargain Deal Big Man this Offseason.
Wired:
JAXSON HAYES was the Best Bargain Deal Big Man this Offseason.
(Remember when Fans freaked out about his NTC and Raise?)
pic.twitter.com/zqauLIgp9N— Lakers Legacy (@LakersLegacyPod) January 13, 2026
Luka Doncic didn’t like DeAndre Ayton
Him and Doncic were supposed to be the team’s pick and roll partner but then that has been not the case this month as he hasn’t recorded a 20-10 stat since a month ago.
Lakers management has some explaining to do as Luka’s former teammate claims the 5-time All-Star was never impressed of his 2018 batchmate and no. 1 overall pick. Markieff Morris, also a former Laker, claims he personally witnessed this.
“I sat on the bench with Luka, whoever, and we watched Ayton play in Portland. And, some of the sh*t he was doing, we couldn’t believe. Luka was sitting right next to me, and we looking at each other like, ‘What the f*ck was that?’” Morris recalled.
Credit: Getty Images
Markieff Morris recently said he doesn’t get why the Lakers went after Deandre Ayton, arguing that Ayton’s playing style doesn’t mesh well with Luka Doncic Ayton lacks the hustle and work ethic like a lively or gafford had , pic.twitter.com/YnzKqGtO3j
— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@chatnigga101) January 13, 2026
The question now is whether the Purple and Gold will make a move or remain patient with Ayton. Trade deadline is next month although there’s not much trade rumors linking Ayton to other teams.
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