Statistically, Deandre Ayton’s first time on the court in the purple and gold Lakers jersey wasn’t anything to write home about. He finished the game with a very mundane two shot attempts and one point in 18 minutes, offering little impact offensively as LA fell to the Suns.

However, that appears to have been by design from Ayton. On the other end of the court, he grabbed eight rebounds, six of them defensive, with two blocks and a steal as well. Coming in with many preconceived notions of his game, Ayton spoke postgame about wanting to make a point in his first game.

“I wanted to show the team I’m more committed on the defensive end more than the offensive end,” Ayton said. “Like I said from the get-go, I’m not really here for numbers. I’m just here for whatever the Lakers really want m

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