About Deandre Ayton

#5 — Center for the Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton is a Bahamian professional basketball player currently with the Los Angeles Lakers. Drafted first overall in 2018 by the Phoenix Suns, he quickly made his mark as one of the NBA’s top young centers, earning All-Rookie First Team honors and helping lead the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals. A former McDonald's All-American and Pac-12 Player of the Year at the University of Arizona, Ayton has built a reputation as a force on both ends of the court.

Internationally, Ayton is a proud co-captain and key supporter of the Bahamas senior men’s national team. In the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, he averaged 19.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, earning All-Star honors. He also led the Bahamas to a historic victory over host Argentina in the 2023 Pre-Olympic Qualifier, averaging 15.5 points and 13.8 rebounds — the highest rebounding average in the tournament. Ayton made his national team debut at just 18 during the 2016 Centrobasket tournament in Panama, where he led both his team and the tournament in rebounds.

Off the court, Ayton is deeply committed to community and family. Through The Ayton Family Foundation, he supports youth and families in Los Angeles, The Bahamas, and Jamaica, focusing on nourishment through sports, education, and health. As a father, leader, and philanthropist, Ayton continues to use his platform to uplift others and grow the game he loves.