"This feels like a video game, like somebody set it up" - Deandre Ayton on teaming up with Luka Doncic in LA
The 2018 draft class has the potential to become one of the greatest in NBA history. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently won an NBA championship, the scoring title and MVP awards for the regular season, Western Conference finals and NBA Finals.
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Luka Doncic earned the scoring title and the Western Conference finals MVP award in the previous season. Jaren Jackson Jr. took home the DPOY award, Trae Young led the league in assists last season and Michael Porter Jr. added an NBA championship to his resume.
Interestingly, none of these stars were the first overall pick in the draft — that honor went to Deandre Ayton. While Ayton hasn't exactly underperformed, having been a key piece in the Phoenix Suns' run to the NBA Finals, he hasn't fully lived up to the expectations of being the first overall selection.
For years, debates raged between Luka and Trae over who was the best player in the class, only for Shai to quietly take the throne after his performance last campaign.
Doncic, still widely regarded as the most talented player from that class, was recently traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in a shocking turn of events. This season, he's on a mission to prove he can lead a team to a championship — and joining him on that quest is his new running mate in the City of Angels, Ayton.
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"This feels like a video game. Like somebody set it up," the newest Purple and Gold acquisition said. "But honestly, this is an opportunity that I won't take for granted. Luka is a once-in-a-generation player, and I'm happy to be his teammate.
"Hearing about the kind of shape he's been in, he's super ripped, and I'm finally glad to be on his side when he's doing all of that. And I'm just truly excited. I'm a student of the game, and I love to play with a passion. And the love I have received, and I've not even thrown on a jersey, I can only show you guys my appreciation," he added.
Ayton doesn't fit Doncic's mold exactly
Doncic prefers rim-running centers who are vertical lob threats at the basket and make perfect pick-and-roll partners, much like Dwight Powell and Daniel Gafford were for him in Dallas. Ayton doesn't fit this mold exactly. His game offers a wider range of offensive options beyond just setting screens and catching lobs. Although he certainly has the basketball IQ to adjust his game to complement Doncic's style.
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However, the real concern lies on the defensive end. Neither LeBron James nor Luka Magic is known for their defensive prowess, and Ayton hasn't built that reputation either. In fact, when Ayton first entered the league, his draft profile pointed out:
"Ayton's shot-block rate (2.3%) was considered low for a player of his size. He lacked consistent effort and awareness on rotations and often got caught ball-watching. He struggled guarding in space and wasn't quick to read and react to screen actions — considered a liability in defending modern spread offenses."
Scouts were right — Ayton hasn't yet stood out as a defensive factor in his career. This could be a worrying weakness for the Lakers' frontcourt. Opinions on the trade are divided league-wide, and Kendrick Perkins sent Ayton a clear message that this might be his last real chance to prove his worth in the Association.
"You got your hands full," Perkins said. "So, this should be a moment where you go in and check yourself and say, you know what? I'm about to lock in. People need to see that you're committed to doing the little things, right? You got a tough Western Conference."
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Related: Rick Fox explains why Kobe never hung out with other teammates: "He was on a course and any minute or day wasted doing something else was going to slow him down getting to that point"
Lakers fans may worry
Given Ayton's career so far, Lakers fans may worry whether he has the mentality and effort level to improve defensively or if he'll continue to be caught "sleeping" on that end of the court.
Offensively, this team has incredible potential, but when facing dominant centers in the playoffs — Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Alperen Sengun, Anthony Davis, Chet Holmgren — the Lakers could quickly find themselves in trouble.
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There have been plenty of examples throughout league history of teams with incredible offensive potential who ultimately fell short of going all the way despite impressive stats.
James is also ain't getting any younger, while the pressure on Doncic to win a title grows with each passing season. While this team might resemble something out of a video game, defense could end up being the deciding factor in how the story unfolds.
Related: Kevin Durant explains why today's NBA is better without so much structure: "I love that the league is trending towards that, though. That's just more hoopin'"
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
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