Frustration and Responses in Playoff Matchup

Two months ago, Deandre Ayton of the Lakers expressed his frustration, feeling he wasn’t getting the recognition he believed he deserved. After a game where he recorded 21 points and 13 rebounds against the Magic on February 24, he made an offhand remark as he headed to the shower post-media session. “They’re trying to turn me into Clint Capela,” he remarked. “I’m not Clint Capela.”

Interestingly, Ayton is now facing Capela in the first round of the Lakers-Rockets playoff series. The Lakers won Game 1, finishing with a score of 107-98, giving them a 1-0 lead.

Capela reflected on Ayton’s comment, saying, “I was surprised. I don’t understand why I’m in someone else’s head. I don’t talk to that guy.” His comments came after Ayton’s statement began circulating on social media. Capela noted on Instagram that Ayton plays alongside top talents like Luka Doncic and LeBron James, saying, “You got two of the best floor generals in the game, man, rockin’.”

Selected 25th overall by Houston in the 2014 NBA Draft, Capela, now 31, has established himself as a valuable role player. He signed a three-year, $21.5 million deal with the Rockets in June 2025 after being converted to a reserve veteran. Capela is known for his rebounding, shot-blocking, and defensive presence. In his prime, he was instrumental in helping the Rockets reach the Western Conference Finals in both 2015 and 2018, even averaging a double-double during the 2020-21 season.

“Yeah, I mean, for me, I’ve done what I’ve done for my team in my career and had a lot of success,” Capela mentioned.

Capela has excelled in his role without striving for stardom, embodying a hard-working mentality that has defined his 12-season career. This, however, stands in contrast to Ayton’s ambitions.

At 27, Ayton was picked first overall by the Suns in the 2018 draft, with expectations for him to become a superstar. Yet his journey has seen ups and downs, often marked by inconsistency and issues with maturity throughout his eight seasons in the league. Depending on the night, he can pull off a double-double but also seem like just a supporting player.

After the Lakers acquired Ayton on a two-year, $16.6 million deal following his buyout from the Trail Blazers, he aimed to revitalize his career. After a time marred by unprofessionalism in his previous teams, joining the Lakers was seen as a chance for reinvention.

This season has been a mixed bag for Ayton, averaging 12.5 points and eight rebounds, but he has shown improvement recently as the Lakers surged to a 16-2 record. “I felt like I had my energy and focus back,” he said in mid-March, clearly feeling more aligned with his team.

In a March 16 matchup against the Rockets, Ayton and Capela delivered comparable contributions, with Ayton scoring seven points and grabbing 11 rebounds while Capela put up nine points and eight rebounds. However, with key players like Doncic and Austin Reeves out indefinitely, the pressure is now on Ayton to elevate his performance further.

In Game 1, Ayton stepped up significantly, scoring 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, along with 11 rebounds and one block in 35 minutes. Meanwhile, the Rockets struggled in Kevin Durant’s absence, as he had injured his knee prior to the game.

“Nobody can replace KD,” Capela acknowledged. “So we did what we had to do with what we had and hopefully we can get him for the next game.”

As for Capela, his focus remains strictly on the series. He chose to interpret Ayton’s comments as a kind of compliment, stating, “If people are thinking about me when I’m doing what I’m supposed to do, I think that’s a good thing.”