Deandre Ayton says he 'bought in' with the Lakers after looking in the mirror

Deandre Ayton says he has 'bought in' to his role with the Los Angeles Lakers and shifted his focus toward defense and effort. The Lakers have won six straight and nine of their last 10 games as Ayton has contributed in recent matchups.

Deandre Ayton decided to change his approach after reflecting on his role following a road loss to the Denver Nuggets. He says he has "bought in" to the Lakers' needs and has emphasized defense, rebounding and energy over being a primary scorer. Ayton has come off the bench at times but has also produced key minutes when the team needed interior presence. The Lakers have been on a winning stretch as the team sharpens focus for the postseason. What we know: - Ayton told reporters he "bought in" to the Lakers' approach and described the commitment as "110 percent." - He said he intentionally shifted emphasis from scoring to defensive effort, setting screens, rebounding and running the floor. - In a recent game against the Houston Rockets, Ayton spent much of the first half on the bench before returning to provide interior defense and finishing plays. - The Lakers are 43-25 and have won six straight and nine of their last 10 games, during which Ayton has had notable performances including a 23-point, 10-rebound outing and strong defensive stretches. - Wednesday will mark Ayton's 60th game this season, his most since his final year with the Phoenix Suns. Summary: Ayton's stated recommitment to effort and defense has coincided with a multi-game winning run for the Lakers and has offered the team interior stability at key moments. He remains a variable in rotations but is set to reach his 60th game this week as the Lakers continue their push toward the playoffs.