Deandre Ayton Was Genuinely Confused After JJ Redick Called Him the Lakers’ Defensive Leader

The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off another gritty win, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 112–108 on Sunday night — and in the aftermath, one of the most interesting moments didn’t happen on the court.

It happened in the locker room.

While JJ Redick stood at the podium praising Deandre Ayton for what he called a “disruptive” defensive performance, Ayton was… confused.

And his reaction told a deeper story about what’s happening inside this Lakers team.

🧱 Ayton’s “Quiet” Dominance vs. the 76ers

From the box score alone, Ayton’s night looked strong:

• 14 points
• 7-for-7 shooting (perfect from the field)
• 12 rebounds
• +10 plus/minus

But Redick wasn’t talking about his offense.

He was talking about impact.

🎙️ Ayton’s Honest Reaction Shocked People

When asked about Redick’s praise, Ayton didn’t brag.

He didn’t smile.

He didn’t even understand it.

“I’ll be real: I don’t know what he’s talking about… I was asking ‘What do you mean?’ I just do what I have to do.”

That’s not deflection.

That’s humility.

🧠 What JJ Redick Was Really Seeing

In the postgame press conference, Redick explained exactly what he meant — and it painted a much bigger picture:

“He was in drop being disruptive. He was getting loose balls. He was blocking shots. He was switching onto Tyrese Maxey. Whatever we needed him to do, he was great.”

Those aren’t stats.

Those are winning plays.

And they changed the game.

🔄 The Defense That Turned the Game Around

The Lakers gave up:

• 60 points in the first half

Then flipped the switch entirely.

In the second half:

✅ Better rotations

✅ Stronger rim protection

✅ More physical switches

✅ Control of tempo

Redick said it himself:

“To come back and defend the way we did was awesome.”

And he made it clear — Ayton led that charge.

🌟 Luka Got the Headlines — Ayton Did the Dirty Work

Yes, Luka Dončić was unreal:

• 31 points
• 15 rebounds
• 11 assists

But the Lakers don’t close games without defense.

And Ayton wasn’t just present — he was active.

Switching onto guards.

Securing loose balls.

Changing shots.

That matters in playoff basketball.

🧩 Why Ayton’s Mindset Might Be His Biggest Strength

The scary part?

He doesn’t even think he’s playing well yet.

He doesn’t think he’s done enough.

That’s the mentality of someone who hasn’t peaked.

He’s not chasing praise.

He’s not chasing noise.

He’s focused on role.

⏭️ What’s Next for the Lakers

With the win:

✅ Lakers improve to 17–6

✅ Sit near the top of the West

✅ Build real defensive identity

Next challenge:

San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday night.

🏁 Final Thought

When a player dominates without realizing it…

That’s danger.

Deandre Ayton didn’t just play well.

He led.

He anchored.

He disrupted.

And somehow, he thinks he can do more.

That’s exactly what the Lakers need.