Marcus Smart Says Injured Deandre Ayton Determined to Help Lakers
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart defended center Deandre Ayton on Thursday night after the big man exited a loss to the Denver Nuggets with a knee injury that limited him to five minutes.
Speaking to Spectrum SportsNet in the locker room, Smart said Ayton was “down” about being unable to continue but remains committed to contributing despite recent criticism over his effort and declining production.
“He tried to go and it just didn’t feel right,” Smart said. “He wants to do good and he wants to help this team. He was apologizing that he couldn’t be out there.”
Ayton, who joined Los Angeles in the offseason emphasizing defense and rebounding over scoring, has publicly expressed frustration with his role in recent weeks, insisting he is “not a Clint Capela type of player.” His comments drew sharp scrutiny as his numbers dipped.
The timeline for Ayton’s return from the knee issue remains unclear. The Lakers hope he can recapture the form he showed early in the season, when his energy and interior presence bolstered the club’s postseason ambitions.
Guard Austin Reaves recently labeled Ayton the Lakers’ “X factor” during an ESPN interview, saying the 7-footer “changes our ceiling.”
Source: Lakers Nation
