Deandre Ayton described LeBron James as “a machine” following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 140-126 victory over the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.
“The dude’s a machine,” Ayton said, reflecting on James’ 23rd NBA season debut. “He doesn’t make it seem like that, running fast as me down the floor.”
Ayton shared a personal connection with James, recalling, “He threw me an alley-oop. I said, ‘That’s my second alley from you.’ The first one was when I was in eighth grade at your camp.”
LeBron returned after missing the first 14 games with sciatica, finishing with 11 points and 12 assists in 30 minutes. Ayton praised James’ leadership on the court, noting how his instructions quickly translated into defensive execution.
“I’m really glad us as a young team… we went through some tough games and a little adversity,” Ayton said. “It made us prepared for times like this, where he says one thing and we get it done right away.”
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 37 points and 10 assists, while Austin Reaves contributed 26 points as Los Angeles improved to 11-4 with a third straight win. A 21-5 third-quarter run shifted momentum, allowing the Lakers to pull away despite Keyonte George’s 33 points and Lauri Markkanen’s 31 for the Jazz.
The Lakers shot 60 percent in the second half, outrebounded Utah 41-35, and recorded 17 combined assists from Doncic and James, showing efficiency and floor spacing even after James’ extended absence.
Ayton emphasized the impact of having James on the floor for in-game problem solving. “We just followed the script and followed the lead up,” he said, highlighting how the team quickly adjusted when James called out defensive responsibilities.
Los Angeles will return to Utah for a rematch on Sunday, while the Jazz host the Thunder on Friday, looking to bounce back after losing five of seven games.
