Overview

• Ayton signed a two-year, $16.6 million deal with a player option after his buyout from Portland to fill the starting center vacancy left by Anthony Davis.
• At his July 9 introduction, he revealed he calls Shaquille O’Neal “Big Unc” as a nod to their long-standing relationship and Lakers lore.
• He compared teaming with Luka Doncic to playing a “video game” and expects their high-assist pick-and-rolls to elevate his impact.
• Ayton pledged to channel past criticism into a new drive, saying external doubts will “fuel” his effort in purple and gold.
• He cited LeBron James’s and Doncic’s elite playmaking as vital to returning to his peak form and competing for a championship now.