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"I'm not no Clint Capela" - Deandre Ayton is not happy with his role in Los Angeles
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- "I'm not no Clint Capela" - Deandre Ayton is not happy with his role in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Lakers ' loss to the Orlando Magic last Tuesday became the talk of the town after Luka Doncic uncharacteristically passed up on the game-winning shot and instead threw LeBron James a grenade with time winding down. But while that's what everybody is talking about, it wasn't the only storyline for the Lakers that day.
After the loss, center Deandre Ayton made a scene backstage. After telling reporters that his teammates reward him when he plays hard, he headed to the showers shouting, "They're trying to make me Clint Capela ."
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"I'm not no Clint Capela," he added , per ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
It's unclear if it was Ayton's intention that he wanted to be heard or if he was just speaking to himself out of frustration. But it was loud enough that the group of reporters who were there heard it and it was controversial enough to land on the headlines.
D.A. is averaging career lows in points and rebounds this season
Ayton was the Lakers' top offseason pickup after the team was knocked out of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs as the third seed in the Western Conference. Experts said they needed a legit big man, one who could not only block shots but also be a lob threat to pair with Luka. Ayton didn't fit the bill, but given his resume - a former No. 1 pick who was a walking double-double, the Lakers felt it could work.
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Early on, he had his moments. But 49 games in, however, Ayton is averaging career lows at 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. The Lakers are in the bottom 4 in rebounds and blocks and are 24th in defensive rating. Now he sounds frustrated about his role, just four months after saying in preseason that he's willing to do what it takes to make it work.
"I'm not really here for numbers," he said last October. "I'm just here for whatever the Lakers want me to do and the main objective is really protecting that rim and closing out possessions... It doesn't matter if you're scoring and shooting, shooting and scoring. You got Luka Doncic, you got LeBron James and Austin (Reaves). Trust those playmakers and if you get more than two shots, then that was how the game was supposed to go."
Related: "The worst teammate" - Sam Mitchell reveals why Luka Doncic is the Lakers' biggest problem
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Redick said they need Ayton to be a lion to be successful
In mid-November, Lakers head coach JJ Redick was spotted wearing a custom t-shirt with Ayton's family name and jersey number at the back and Deandre's face mixed with a lion in front. When asked to explain what he was wearing, JJ said they wanted Ayton to be a lion on the basketball court. Apparently, that did not work.
"Members of the training staff wrap Ayton's water bottle in athletic tape and write "DA's Crunk Juice -- Drink this to unleash the beast" in black marker on it before games," wrote McMenamin.
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That may not be working too because after he put up 21 points on just 11 field goal attempts while also grabbing 13 rebounds against the Magic, he told the world he does not like his role on the team. In fairness to Capela, though, the James Harden-Chris Paul Rockets peaked when Clint was at his best.
But perhaps being a difference-making role player on a winning team isn't what Ayton wants. Or maybe the Lakers need to try harder at babysitting him.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
