NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal openly criticized Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton during ESPN’s Tip-Off show on Saturday, calling out Ayton’s inconsistent effort and challenging him to “just do your job.” The remarks came after Ayton referenced fellow center Clint Capela while expressing dissatisfaction with his role on the Lakers.
O’Neal emphasized the difference between Ayton and Capela, highlighting Capela’s consistent hard work night after night. According to Shaq, Ayton falls short in playing with the required intensity and reliability, which is especially crucial given his supporting role alongside stars like LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
“He’s not Clint Capela because Clint Capela plays hard every game,”
said Shaquille O’Neal.
“Clint Capela is a role player. Deandre Ayton is a role player. They’re not gonna be on the same team with LeBron and Luka and think you’re gonna get shots. However, all these play right here; they’re for you. So if you just do your job — pick, rebound, and run the court, you’ll get easy baskets. I wish my career were this easy…But listen, you just shut the hell up and do your job, and do it all the time, and do it consistently, it wouldn’t be a problem.”
Ayton’s Struggles with Consistency Since Joining Lakers
The Lakers brought in Deandre Ayton in the offseason hoping to fill the defensive gap left by Anthony Davis and to add a dynamic athletic presence that complemented Luka Doncic’s style. Initially, Ayton appeared motivated to contribute positively, but as the season unfolded, his inconsistency and public complaints about limited touches became evident.
Playing alongside established stars like LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves, Ayton’s reduced opportunities on offense were expected. Nevertheless, his performance has fluctuated sharply. For instance, Ayton recorded 21 points and 13 rebounds in a loss against Orlando, demonstrating his potential. However, following his Capela comparison, Ayton’s production dropped dramatically, managing just two points on three shots with four rebounds in 23 minutes during the Lakers’ third consecutive defeat.
Shaquille O’Neal pinpointed this inconsistency as Ayton’s biggest problem, explaining that his lack of constant effort costs the team valuable points that could help push the Lakers forward.
“My problem with him is he doesn’t play hard all the time, he don’t play consistent all the time. 6-7 drop off, that’s 12 points. You run the court a couple of times when your guys shooting 3s, you run past them, that’s another 6 points. There go 18 points right there. So I don’t want to hear no excuses from him cuz he don’t play hard all the time. He’s the key for them to get to that next level,”
Shaquille O’Neal added.
Clint Capela Urges Ayton to Focus and Improve
Continuing the criticism from a peer, Clint Capela himself advised Ayton to elevate his commitment, considering the support available to him with two of the NBA’s best playmakers, LeBron James and Luka Doncic, on the court.
“U got 2 of the best floor generals in the game, my dawg lockinnn,”
Capela wrote on Instagram, encouraging Ayton to seize the opportunity.
Despite the message, Ayton followed up a poor two-point outing against the Phoenix Suns with another underwhelming performance on Saturday, scoring only four points on five shots while adding 10 rebounds. The Lakers, facing a depleted Golden State Warriors team, won convincingly 129-101, ending their three-game losing streak. Nonetheless, Ayton’s defensive lapses were costly, prompting assistant coach JJ Redick to bench him early after multiple defensive mistakes.
Kendrick Perkins Joins Criticism, Urges Ayton to Temper His Ego
Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins also addressed Ayton’s recent complaints regarding his role, calling for humility and focus on delivering consistent effort instead of harboring entitlement.
“You’re not Beyonce. You’re not irreplaceable,”
Perkins said, pushing Ayton to put ego aside and concentrate on his responsibilities for the team’s benefit.
Implications for Lakers and Ayton’s Role Going Forward
Deandre Ayton’s ongoing struggles illustrate a critical tension within the Lakers’ roster, as the team seeks to integrate his abilities alongside elite stars while maintaining chemistry and consistent production. Shaquille O’Neal’s and other veterans’ blunt assessments underscore an urgent call for Ayton to rise to the occasion, embrace his role fully, and provide the dependable contributions expected of a starting center in a championship-contending squad.
If Ayton manages to internalize this feedback and perform with steady effort, the Lakers could significantly improve their chances as the season progresses. However, repeated inconsistencies and visible frustrations risk hampering team cohesion and potentially jeopardizing Los Angeles’ ambitions.
CLINT CAPELA RESPONDS: Clint Capela took to his Instagram story to fire back at DeAndre Ayton who said the Lakers are “trying to make me Clint Capela” 😳
Capela: “U got 2 of the best floor generals in the game my dawg lockinnn 😂😂”
Ayton vs. Phoenix: 2 PTS, 4 REB, 1/3 FGM, 23… pic.twitter.com/2mSmqAlPWp
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) February 27, 2026
