High hopes! Luoyang media hopes Ayton averages 20+ games in the new season and helps the Lakers defend and enter the top 10

Lakers Daily posted a message to talk about the Lakers' new aid Ayton and put forward three hopes for Ayton in the new season.

Average scores 20+ for the first time in his career. The media said: "When playing for the Trail Blazers last season, Ayton averaged only 14.4 points per game, a career low. But in the new season, he can play alongside two top passers, James and Doncic, and he only needs to cooperate with the two to get the opportunity to score easily. Previously, Ayton averaged 18.2 points per game in the NBA. He has long been a player who has proven to have the ability to score, but in his first season in the Lakers' jersey, he will be among the top scoring centers in the league with the double improvement in scoring output and efficiency.

helped the Lakers' defense enter the top 10 in the league. The media wrote: "Ayton is most well-known for his influence on the offensive end. On the defensive end, he is far from being the top big player in the league. But early in his career, when he helped the Suns reach the Finals, the Suns ranked sixth in the league in defensive efficiency that season, and in the 2021 NBA playoffs, Ayton's defensive efficiency value reached 107.8, ranking first among all starting centers. If he can regain the defensive performance that early in his career. He will be the core of the Lakers' defensive system, helping the team to rank among the top 10 in the league's defensive efficiency ranking next season, and criticism from the outside world for his lack of effort and focus on the defensive end will also subside. ”

tied his best performance in the 26th playoffs. The media wrote: "In the 2021 NBA playoffs, Ayton averaged 15.8 points per game and shot as high as 65.8%. If everything goes well, Ayton will achieve this scoring achievement again in the 2026 NBA playoffs, and will play another efficient and influential playoff scoring performance. The team is expected to unexpectedly advance to the Western Conference Finals. With the Big Three of Doncic, James and Ayton, the Los Angeles Lakers will bring huge challenges to defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. ”