"Hell nah": Devin Booker mercilessly mocks former teammate Deandre Ayton as Lakers' marquee signing bricks a shot 

"Hell nah": Devin Booker mercilessly mocks former teammate Deandre Ayton as Lakers
"Hell nah": Devin Booker mercilessly mocks former teammate Deandre Ayton as Lakers' marquee signing bricks a shot (Image Source: IMAGN)

Former teammates Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker locked horns for the first time ahead of the new season during Friday's preseason contest between the LA Lakers and Phoenix Suns. Ayton, who spent the first five years of his career in Phoenix as Booker's co-star, signed a two-year deal with the Lakers this offseason.

Ad

Since parting ways, Booker and Ayton seemingly have been cold with each other. On Friday, Booker fueled that speculation after mocking the Lakers center after he missed a hook shot over Oso Ighodaro.

"Hell nah," Booker yelled after Ayton's miss.
Ad

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

Ayton has made a living on post plays of this caliber, but he was off the mark this time. The big man had a rough offensive half in his debut as a Laker, as he produced only one point in 13:19 minutes. He missed both his shots from the floor.

Nevertheless, he had six rebounds and two blocks. Ayton's two-man action and screening also created scoring opportunities for LA. On defense, he derailed the Suns' rim attacks, giving a good glimpse of what to expect from him on the Lakers.

Ad

Meanwhile, Booker had a solid half from the point of attack. He finished with 14 points and five assists, shooting 4 of 9 and 6 of 8 from the free throw line.

Devin Booker on Deandre Ayton joining Lakers

Devin Booker issued a limited response when talking about Deandre Ayton joining the Lakers. During his pre-game interview at shootaround on Friday, Booker was seemingly not too big or low on Ayton's new chapter with the Suns' division rivals.

Ad
"I mean, I guess we’ll just have to see," Booker said when asked about Ayton's impact in LA. (h/t Sportskeeda's Mark Medina).
Ad

Ayton peaked during his time in Phoenix with Booker. He was one of the key pieces of their finals run, anchoring the renowned defense that wreaked havoc on the league.

However, the former No. 1 pick hasn't consistently reached those levels since he got traded. The Trail Blazers were in a rebuild with Ayton, and it didn't align with his timeline, especially after he started for a playoff-contending team for three years. P

Portland and Deandre Ayton agreed on a buyout, which led him to a competitive team again with the Lakers alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Ayton will hope to make a difference, especially as it is a natural fit considering his skillset and the team's need at center.

Los Angeles Lakers Fan? Check out the latest Lakers depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.

Quick Links

Edited by Arhaan Raje
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
down arrow icon
More
bell-icon Manage notifications