Deandre Ayton Adjusting to Luka Dončić’s unique Passing Vision
Los Angeles Lakers forward Deandre Ayton is still marveling at the court vision of new teammate Luka Dončić, even after their first on-court action together.Ayton, who joined the Lakers this summer after being drafted ahead of Dončić in 2018, experienced firsthand the slovenian star’s exceptional playmaking ability during Wednesday’s practice, noting Dončić’s knack for finding open teammates even when Ayton expected to be the target.
The dynamic between Dončić and Ayton is poised to be a key factor for the Lakers’ championship aspirations this season. While Ayton is familiar with playing alongside elite point guards – having previously teamed with Chris Paul in Phoenix - he emphasizes that Dončić’s skillset presents a different challenge and chance. Dončić’s combination of size and passing prowess allows him to make passes that few others can, requiring teammates to remain constantly aware of potential openings.
“Luka is different,” Ayton said. “He’s truly one-in-a-generational player when it comes to that pick and roll. It feels like he’s got eyes in the back of his head.” Ayton described instances where he anticipated a pass but Dončić instead found players in the weakside corners, a testament to his ability to read defenses and exploit vulnerabilities. “I thought the pass was for me, but I’m ducking my head for the pass to get to the corner…that was really fun. Seeing how he starts to do his Luka magic in those situations.”
Ayton anticipates a similar lob threat as he experienced with Paul,but acknowledges the added dimension of Dončić’s passing range. The ability to consistently find open shooters on the perimeter, even when drawing defensive attention, is what sets Dončić apart. This unique skill set will require Ayton and the rest of the Lakers roster to remain vigilant and prepared to capitalize on any opportunity created by Dončić’s exceptional playmaking.
