Despite playing without LeBron James and with both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves missing games in between, the Los Angeles Lakers are 7-2 to start the 2025-26 NBA season and are in second place in the Western Conference team standings.
While it's still early to draw out conclusions, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith is mightily impressed with how the Lake Show has been playing. In particular, Smith is "shocked" at how good center Deandre Ayton has been in his first eight games with the team.
"I can't believe he's showing he's got a pulse," said Smith. "This brother is playing 31 minutes a night. He's averaging 17.5 points and 8 rebounds, 17.5 and 8. Deandre Ayton ? I'm like 'What?' I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. I'm not saying it's going to last, but they are doing this without LeBron James."
The reason Smith mentioned a pulse is that Ayton had been written off after a disappointing two-year run with the Portland Trail Blazers . Deandre was expected to be one of the big men of the future when the Phoenix Suns drafted him first overall in 2018, but after they shipped him to Portland, his struggles worsened, and DA ended up getting bought out of his contract last season.
Although there was plenty of fanfare when the Lakers signed him last summer, many weren't sold on Ayton's addition, and others even said that this was his last chance to prove he belongs in the NBA. Well, Deandre is proving the latter by averaging 17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while playing a major role on a Purple & Gold team that is off to a strong start.
"It's shocking. It's shocking. A testament to JJ Redick and his staff. Yo, there has been an APB for Deandre Ayton for years, okay? It's shocking what we're seeing from him, but pleasantly so. They got a big man that's playing like a big man," Smith added.
As Smith cautioned, it's just eight games, and there is no guarantee that it will last. But so far, Ayton has outplayed Rudy Gobert (twice), Domantas Sabonis , and, the last time out, Victor Wembanyama . He has posted a 20-10 double-double in half of his last six games played.
"He has embraced his teammates. He has embraced his role. He's sacrificed... He's just in a really comfortable rhythm right now... He's showing that he's a winning basketball player," said Lakers head coach JJ Redick following his team's win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, where DA had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocked shots while shooting 9-13 from the floor.
Many are calling this season a "revenge year" for Doncic, following the Dallas Mavericks ' trade of him to the Lakers in February. However, this could be Ayton's vengeance season, too. That brother was left for dead in Portland last season, but as Stephen A. said, Deandre is showing in L.A. that he still has a pulse. Not only that, he's also proving that he's both alive and kicking.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 7, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
