Mychal Thompson believes wholeheartedly in DeAndre Ayton. So much, in fact, that heâs willing to mentor the former No. 1 pick to help unlock his abilities as he settles into his new home with the Los Angeles Lakers.
âDefinitely,â Thompson said on the âMason and Irelandâ radio show on ESPN. âEven when I see him, Iâm gonna say, âHey man, this is your chance to show everybody how good you are and the reason why you were the No. 1 pick.
âYeah, if we re-did the (2018) draft today, obviously Luka (Doncic) would go No. 1, but you still might go No. 2. Iâll tell him, âYou could be the next great Lakers center. Itâs up to you.ââ
Consider that incredibly high praise from the 70-year-old Thompson, whoâs now the Lakersâ radio color commentator.
Criticism Fuels DeAndre Ayton
Ayton, 26, is one of the most skill big men in the NBA. However, after seven professional seasons, heâs still trying to take his game to another level. Ayton, for one, has never been an All-Star.
In 40 games last season, the 7-foot Ayton averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 56.6% â all around his career averages. Ayton’s first five seasons were spent with the Phoenix Suns, who took him first overall out of Arizona in 2018.
Ayton agreed to a two-year, $16.6 million deal with the Lakers earlier this month, just days after the Portland Trail Blazers surprisingly bought out his contract. In his introductory press conference as a Laker, Ayton discussed how criticism has fueled him throughout his career.
“It fuels me. It fuels me up completely,â Ayton said via a post on X by Khobi Price of the So Cal News Group. âAnd 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 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.”
DeAndre Ayton Senses Connection with Mychal Thompson
Portland drafted Thompson â a native of the Bahamas â No. 1 in 1978, making him the first foreign-born player to be taken first overall.
Thompson was named to the All-Rookie Team in 1979 and spent parts of eight seasons with Portland before he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. He was then traded again the following offseason, this time to the Lakers.
As a Laker, Thompson helped capture back-to-back NBA titles in 1987 and 1988.
Ayton, who also was born in the Bahamas, senses a natural kinship with Thompson.
“That is the grandfather of the whole thing,â Ayton told ESPN Los Angeles. âThat is why we have hopes of being in the NBA, and the reason that the ball bounces on that island. That man right there, he opened the gates, for sure.â
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