Deandre Ayton Begins Wizards Tenure, Clean Injury Report Through Four Games
Deandre Ayton is four games into his first season in Washington, splitting two wins and two losses with modest scoring nights so far. He is not on the injury report. Last season with the Lakers he averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds across 72 games.
By the Wizards Nightly Desk · updated 4 d ago01The story of the nightA Fresh Start in WashingtonDeandre Ayton is now with the Washington Wizards, wearing No.
Deandre Ayton is now with the Washington Wizards, wearing No. 8 and starting at center for the 2026-27 season. He is 28 years old, in his eighth season, standing 7-0 and weighing 252 pounds. Ayton came up through Arizona before his NBA career, and his game has always centered on size at the rim and work on the glass. This season marks a new chapter after spending last season with the Lakers. For Washington, he brings a veteran big man with eight years of NBA minutes under his belt, now tasked with anchoring the paint for a Wizards team still shaping its identity early in the year.
02Four Games InAyton has played four games to open the season.
Ayton has played four games to open the season. On October 16 against New Orleans, Washington lost with Ayton putting up 4 points, 4 rebounds and 0 assists in 13.8 minutes, a minus-6.0 plus-minus. On October 12 against Brooklyn, another loss, he logged 4 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in 25.4 minutes, minus-15.0. The Wizards picked up a win on October 10 against Detroit, with Ayton scoring 4 points, grabbing 6 rebounds and dishing 1 assist in 15.4 minutes, plus-9.0. On October 8 against New York, also a win, he had 4 points, 10 rebounds and 1 assist in 17.4 minutes, plus-1.0.
03Last Season by the NumbersLast season, with the Lakers, Ayton played all 72 games, averaging 27.2 minutes, 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 0.8…
Last season, with the Lakers, Ayton played all 72 games, averaging 27.2 minutes, 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, with 1.2 turnovers. He shot 67.1 percent from the field, 0.0 percent from three and 64.5 percent from the free-throw line, posting a true shooting percentage of 67.6. His usage rate sat at 16.4 percent, and his plus-minus was minus-0.1 on the season. Those numbers reflect a role built around efficient finishing and rebounding rather than high-volume scoring, which lines up with how he has been used so far in Washington.
04Playoff Grind with the LakersAyton's most recent extended run of games came in last season's playoffs with the Lakers.
Ayton's most recent extended run of games came in last season's playoffs with the Lakers. Against Oklahoma City, he had four games: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist in 20.8 minutes on May 11; 10 points, 6 rebounds in 23.5 minutes on May 9; 3 points, 10 rebounds in 26.6 minutes on May 7; and 10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists in 27.4 minutes on May 5, all losses. Against Houston, he had a win on May 1 with 7 points, 16 rebounds, 1 assist in 28.2 minutes, plus-5.0, followed by a loss on April 29 with 18 points, 17 rebounds in 38.2 minutes, plus-2.0.
05Health ReportAyton is not on the injury report heading into this stretch of the season.
Ayton is not on the injury report heading into this stretch of the season. There is no injury history on file for him, which lines up with a player who logged a full 72-game slate last season. For a Wizards team still figuring out rotations early in 2026-27, having a center available every night matters, and right now Ayton is giving Washington that availability. His minutes have fluctuated game to game, from 13.8 to 25.4, but that appears tied to game flow rather than any physical limitation.
Ayton12.5 ppg
Raynaud12.5 ppg
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