The prevailing belief surrounding Deandre Ayton's arrival in LA is that the Lakers have finally acquired a young big man capable of forming a dynamic pick-and-lob partnership with Luka Doncic - one that would keep the opposing defenses unsettled throughout games and keep them on their toes.
However, former MVP Steve Nash believes that if Ayton is merely viewed as a scoring threat around the rim and is handed a limited role rather than making him their defensive anchor, neither will the seven-foot center be able to reignite his career, nor will the Purple and Gold be able to maximize their winning prowess through his presence.
During his five-year tenure with the Phoenix Suns , while Ayton averaged 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, even helping the team reach the NBA Finals, there was always a belief that he was one step away from taking a giant leap to announce himself as one of the most dominant forces under the rim in today's NBA.
Then, in his subsequent stint with the Portland Trail Blazers , Ayton did not generate any buzz despite averaging 15.7 points per game over two seasons, as the entire attention was on how he wasn't able to feature in even 60 games in either of those campaigns.
That is why, while appearing on "The Zach Lowe Podcast," Nash emphasized the urgency for Ayton in the 2025-26 season. He asserted that this 2025-26 season could not only improve the trajectory of Ayton's career and bring him back to the spotlight, but he would also need to embrace a proper rim-running role on both ends of the court to prove that, being just 27, he can be seen as a reliable force in a new team's core.
"Ayton, he's got to have a better year. We know he can put up numbers, but is he really going to roll? Like, that's my big question there," Nash said . "Is he really going to roll to the basket? Because it doesn't really help the Lakers or Luka help the Lakers if he wants to pop or if he wants to slow down, you know, in the short role and become a playmaker. Like they really need him to want to be a little more dynamic, get in and out, get above the rim, be a vertical threat just to draw the defense, to ask questions so that Luka can do what he does and make the rest of that team better because they're going to have problems defensively."
Joining a storied franchise like the Lakers undoubtedly presents Ayton with a golden opportunity to revive his career and reshape his narrative. But what he must remember is that, with that opportunity comes immense pressure.
More notably, the Lakers' history and fan base have always demanded excellence, and any collective failure is rarely viewed as a shared responsibility. Put simply, players who fall short of expectations often find themselves at the center of criticism. For instance, the recent case of Russell Westbrook should be taken into consideration, wherein, despite Brodie's willingness to adapt and embrace different roles during his time in LA, he became the scapegoat for the team's shortcomings.
Now, Ayton faces a similar challenge. If the Lakers thrive, he could finally be recognized as the elite two-way center many once believed he would become. But if the team underperforms, the media and fans can turn on him in an instant, blaming him for pulling the team back.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
