Clint Capela Fires Back at Deandre Ayton: Heated Exchange Ignites Tension Between NBA Stars

Deandre Ayton, the Los Angeles Lakers’ big man, stirred the pot recently when he boldly declared in the locker room that the team’s efforts are focused on “making me Clint Capela.” That statement didn’t just vanish into the ether—it caught the attention of none other than Capela himself, who responded with a teasing jab over Instagram, embracing the back-and-forth with a bit of humor and respect. This happening unfolded as the Lakers suffered a narrow defeat to the Phoenix Suns, marking their third loss in a row, with Ayton noticeably struggling on the court—scoring only 2 points and grabbing a mere 4 boards. The spotlight is shining ever brighter on the former No. 1 overall draft pick, whose recent performance and locker room comments have sparked chatter that’s far from quieting down anytime soon. LEARN MORE

Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton raised eyebrows this week when he was heard saying in the Lakers locker room his team is “trying to make me Clint Capela.”

Those remarks have indeed gotten back to Capela.

The Houston Rockets center took a playful shot at Ayton Thursday night via his Instagram story. Sharing an ESPN post that contained Ayton’s comments, Capela wrote “U got 2 of the best floor general in the game my dawg Lockinnn” and included two crying from laughter emojis.

More: Deandre Ayton isn’t Clint Capela. But it’s what he and Lakers need | Opinion

Capela’s comments went up roughly around the time when the Lakers’ game against the Suns was concluding. Los Angeles lost a heartbreaker, 113-110, as Phoenix’s Royce O’Neale hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds. Ayton struggled mightily in the contest.

Fresh off saying he was “Not no Clint Capela,” following the Lakers’ prior game, Ayton went out and scored just 2 points on 1-for-3 shooting. He added just 4 rebounds in his 23 minutes.

The performance, coinciding with the Lakers’ third consecutive loss, is not likely to quiet down the conversation around the former No. 1 overall pick.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clint Capela hits back at Deandre Ayton as Lakers center struggles