Deandre Ayton has once again become the target of intense criticism from Lakers fans.
Ayton’s first season with the Los Angeles Lakers was a rollercoaster ride, filled with highs and lows. His tenure with the team ended on a sour note on Monday, when the Oklahoma City Thunder eliminated the Lakers with a 115-110 victory at Crypto.com Arena in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Just hours before the crucial Game 4 matchup, a video clip of Ayton went viral, sparking a new wave of anger from Lakers fans.
In the video, Ayton can be seen proudly displaying his new “Dominayton” chain — a nickname he has given himself. It’s worth noting that the clip was originally posted on Instagram last week, during the early stages of the Thunder series. While the timing of the video may have been less than ideal, it still rubbed Lakers fans the wrong way, especially as the team faced elimination.
Lakers fans didn’t hold back their frustrations, with many voicing their displeasure online. One fan harshly criticized Ayton, stating, “I swear I can’t stand this dude. He needs to save that money because he’ll be playing in China next year.” Another fan shared their disdain by saying, “Get this fake a** tough guy off my team, please.”
Others took to social media to express their frustration, with one user commenting, “I’m being so serious, Deandre Ayton shouldn’t be allowed to play another game for the Lakers,” while another went as far as saying, “Is this a joke? Yo, kick him out of the league, he is unserious.”
One fan roasted Ayton for his off-court antics, adding, “Getting chains off the court and taking Ls on the court,” referencing the chain he flaunted and his lackluster performance in the Thunder series.
Ayton had initially gained praise from Lakers fans during the first-round matchup against the Houston Rockets, where he played a key role in containing Rockets star Alperen Sengun, helping the Lakers win the series in six games. He expressed his desire to change the narrative about him and dominate in the playoffs. However, his performance against the Thunder severely undermined that progress.
In this series, Ayton averaged 7.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. His shooting percentage from the field was a disappointing 45.2%, which is considered below average for a center. Lakers head coach JJ Redick also seemed frustrated with Ayton’s lack of effort on the boards in Game 3, reportedly saying, “I can’t play him,” while visibly showing his displeasure from the bench.
To make matters worse, it was reported that Ayton was playing NBA 2K26 at midnight before Game 4, a move that didn’t sit well with fans who were hoping for more focus and intensity from the big man.
Ayton certainly hasn’t done himself any favors, as the praise he received after the Rockets series has quickly turned into disappointment following his poor play against the Thunder. It’s becoming clear that the Lakers may not be too eager to keep Ayton on the roster for next season. He has an $8.1 million player option for 2026-27, but he is likely to opt out in hopes of securing a larger contract. The question remains whether any team will be willing to pay Ayton the kind of money he’s looking for. Time will tell.


