The Los Angeles Lakers have adopted a low-tech tactic to jump-start center Deandre Ayton’s production: a hand-labeled water bottle.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, members of the Lakers’ training staff wrap Ayton’s bottle in athletic tape before each game and scrawl the message, “DA’s Crunk Juice – Drink this to unleash the beast,” in black marker. The homemade label is meant to fire up the 27-year-old big man as he heads to the court.
Ayton, listed at 7-foot-0 and 252 pounds, is in his first season with Los Angeles after signing a two-year, $16.6 million contract last July. Through the early portion of the 2025-26 campaign, he is averaging 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per game—each figure the lowest of his eight-year NBA career. He currently slots as the Lakers’ fourth offensive option behind Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
Selected first overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2018 draft, Ayton posted a double-double average in every season until this year. He spent five seasons with the Suns and two with the Portland Trail Blazers before arriving in Los Angeles.
Whether the personalized “Crunk Juice” bottle will unlock the version of Ayton the Lakers envisioned remains uncertain, but the message will stay taped in place for now.
Source: Hoops Wire
