Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Of course, that was the same draft Luka Doncic was selected at No. 3 overall by the Atlanta Hawks and then traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Now, the two top 2018 picks will have a chance to team up and play together.

Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton clapped back at critics questioning his potential to succeed on alongside Lakers All-Star LeBron James and Luka Doncic. To those harsh critics, Ayton’s determined to prove them wrong. However, he didn’t deny the impact it had on his approach.

On Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers addressed their biggest offseason need by signing a rim-protecting, athletic center — and they got exactly that in former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton. Ayton agreed to a two-year,