Former NBA champion issues strong warning to Lakers' new signee Deandre Ayton

Deandre Ayton may have filled the void left by Anthony Davis on the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster, but his work is just beginning. With Davis now in Dallas, the Lakers’ front office turned to Ayton in an effort to bolster their presence in the paint—something they lacked during their first-round NBA playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where Rudy Gobert’s dominance highlighted the team’s interior weaknesses.

Ayton, the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, will be expected to take over as the starting center. However, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins isn’t convinced the job will come easy—and he isn’t holding back on his expectations for Ayton in Los Angeles.

“He better come in with the right mindset because this could possibly be his last shot,” Perkins said during an appearance on ESPN’s Road Trippin’. “People need to see that you’re committed in doing the little things, right? You got a tough Western Conference. Forget the league. You’ve got a great responsibility. You’re playing for one of the most historic franchises in sports”.

Perkins, who won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008, emphasized that the spotlight in Los Angeles is unlike anywhere else in the league. For Ayton, that means proving he’s all-in from day one.

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against Deandre Ayton #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

“You got Magic Johnson watching you day to day. You got Big Game, James Worthy. They’re watching your a–. You got to go out there and produce, period,” Perkins advised Ayton.

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He also warned that the Lakers’ fanbase won’t be forgiving if Ayton fails to meet expectations. “You gotta go out there and produce at a high level, and you gotta do the little things because you cannot fool this Lakers organization or the Lakers fanbase or the Lakers’ greats—because they’re gonna call you out,” Perkins concluded.

The Lakers appear set to go forward with Ayton as their starting big man after bringing back Jaxson Hayes on a one-year deal. While there have been rumors linking veteran Al Horford to Los Angeles, Hayes’ return suggests the center position is now firmly occupied—placing the pressure squarely on Ayton’s shoulders heading into the 2025–26 season.