Deandre Ayton was formally unveiled as Luka Doncic's new teammate on the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, and he shared his appreciation for the moment.
"This feels like a video game. Like somebody set it up," Ayton said at his official introduction, according to NBA.com's Mike Trudell. "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."
Though they were never teammates, Ayton and Doncic have been mentioned in the same conversation since the 2018 NBA Draft. The Phoenix Suns selected Bahamian center first overall that year, while Doncic went third to the Atlanta Hawks, who immediately flipped him to the Dallas Mavericks for No. 5 selection Trae Young.
However, their careers have diverged since, and Doncic has accumulated greater individual success in seven seasons. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2019 (Ayton finished third behind Young), Doncic added five NBA first-team selections and five All-Star nods. He also won the scoring title in 2023-24 before winning conference finals MVP and leading the Mavs to the championship series.
Though Ayton made the Finals first - doing so with Phoenix in 2021 - the 7-footer has yet to be named an All-Star, let alone earn an All-NBA selection. He also butted heads with former Suns coach Monty Williams and reportedly frustrated members of the Portland Trail Blazers with his work ethic and locker room behavior.
However, Ayton, who signed a two-year deal in L.A., says he intends to use his critics as motivation to help the Lakers capture an 18th NBA title.
"It fuels me," he said. "It fuels me up completely. And it's a different type of drive that I've been wanting to express for a long time.
"I think this is the perfect timing, here in the Purple and Gold. And it's a platform that I cannot run from. I can show what I really am and just be around some greats to really emphasize that for me as well. It is a lot of fuel in me to prove to the whole world."
The 26-year-old center owns career averages of 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and one block.
