JJ Redick spoke at the Lakers' Wednesday practice, and said that the team is "very happy" with where DA is at right now.
All season long, Deandre Ayton has been one of the more polarizing figures on the Los Angeles Lakers roster. His talent has never been in question, but his consistency has. And for this team, the version of Ayton they get on any given night matters more than most are willing to admit.
But heading into Game 1 against Houston on Saturday, JJ Redick isn't hedging on where Ayton stands. "I think the whole season for him has been about finding consistency," Redick said. "When he's at his best, we're an elite basketball team. That's just the reality."
There's really no doubting just how much better this team is when DA is showing up and locked in. "He raises our ceiling so much," Redick said. "And it's on both sides of the ball. He's a really good basketball player, and I think we're very happy with where he's at right now."
That's significant praise from JJ heading into a series where Ayton's role just got a lot bigger. Without Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic, LA will need him on his A-game now more than ever.
Jan 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) wears protective glasses in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesA Season of Ups and Downs Leading to This Moment
Ayton averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game across 72 starts this season, solid production but not always consistent enough to quiet the critics. There were stretches early in the year where his defensive engagement frustrated fans and coaching staff alike.
Those kinds of lapses that have followed him throughout his career going back to his Phoenix days. But the late-season stretch told a different story. He dropped 22 points and 10 rebounds against Utah in the regular season finale, 21 points in a win over the Warriors days earlier, and 18 points and 9 rebounds against Cleveland before that.
Three consecutive games of high efficiency production heading into the playoffs is exactly the kind of momentum a team needs from a player Redick is describing as a ceiling-raiser.
Why Ayton Matters So Much Against Houston
With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves both out to start the series, the offensive burden shifts significantly. Ayton co-led the Lakers in scoring in the regular season finale alongside Rui Hachimura, and the Rockets present a physical frontcourt challenge with Alperen Sengun and Clint Capela occupying the paint.
Ayton's seven-foot frame, length, and efficiency around the basket give the Lakers a presence they can run offense through when LeBron draws defensive attention.
If he shows up as the player Redick described, an elite two-way force who raises the ceiling on both ends, the Lakers become a significantly more dangerous team than the rest of the league has been giving them credit for.
The question, as it has always been with Ayton, is whether he sustains it. Redick, for now, seems to believe the answer is yes.