JJ Redick Calls Out Deandre Ayton's Ball-Handling Issues

Lakers coach cites Ayton's struggles catching the ball as reason for reduced playing time

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:59am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with overlapping planes of deep purple, navy blue, and burnt orange hues conveying the chaotic energy of the Lakers' recent losses.Ayton's ball-handling woes expose the Lakers' struggles to find consistent production from their starting center.Oklahoma City Today

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has called out starting center Deandre Ayton for his recent struggles catching the ball, which has limited his playing time during the team's current three-game losing streak. The Lakers have dropped to the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a 50-29 record as they deal with injuries to key players like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Why it matters

Ayton's ball-handling issues are a concerning development for the Lakers, who are relying on the 27-year-old center to provide a strong interior presence as they push for playoff positioning. The team's recent skid has dropped them down the standings, making Ayton's production all the more crucial.

The details

Over the Lakers' last three games, Ayton has averaged just 8.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in around 20 minutes per contest. Redick cited Ayton's trouble catching the ball as the primary reason the team hasn't featured him more during this stretch, despite running plays specifically for the big man.

  • The Lakers have lost three straight games.
  • Ayton's struggles have come over the team's last three games.

The players

Deandre Ayton

The Lakers' 27-year-old starting center who has struggled with ball-handling and production during the team's recent losing streak.

JJ Redick

The Lakers' head coach who called out Ayton's ball-handling issues as the reason for his reduced playing time.

Luka Doncic

The Lakers' injured star player who has missed time due to injury.

Austin Reaves

Another Lakers player who has missed time due to injury.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The defending champions who recently defeated the Lakers by a score of 123-87.

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What they’re saying

“He's having trouble catching the ball. We ran a bunch of plays for him. He's just had trouble catching the ball.”

— JJ Redick, Lakers Head Coach

What’s next

The Lakers will look to bounce back from their recent skid as they push for a higher playoff seed in the Western Conference. Ayton's ability to improve his ball-handling and production will be a key factor in the team's success down the stretch.

The takeaway

Deandre Ayton's ball-handling struggles have become a concerning issue for the Lakers, who are relying on the veteran center to provide a strong interior presence as they fight for playoff positioning. Head coach JJ Redick's public criticism of Ayton's issues catching the ball suggests the team will need to work with the big man to address this problem if they hope to turn things around.