The Los Angeles Lakers dropped their second game of the 2025-26 season to the Portland Trail Blazers, but big man Deandre Ayton isn’t letting the chatter from his former team get under his skin.

After the game, Ayton revealed that the Blazers tried to rattle him all night with trash talk, led by forward Deni Avdija, who made sure every made shot came with a few choice words. “They definitely was talking crap to me the whole time,” Ayton said postgame, cracking a grin. “Deni Avdija, every shot he made, he just kept rubbing it in.” Expand Tweet

The Blazers’ verbal strategy seemed aimed at throwing Ayton off his rhythm, especially after his strong start to the season. But the Lakers’ big man took it in stride, laughing off the “antics” and insisting he wouldn’t take the bait.

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