Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton recently treated his teammates and coaching staff to a taste of Jamaica, courtesy of his mother, Andrea Ayton, who prepared an authentic home-cooked meal for the team.
“We’re cooking for the Lakers today. I am excited. I am overwhelmed,” Andrea said in a video shared on the Los Angeles Lakers’ official YouTube page.
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She explained that preparation began well before sunrise. “We got here at 3 a.m. Yesterday, we came in to cut up all our herbs, season the meat, clean everything up, then went home and came back again,” she said.
The Jamaican-inspired menu featured oxtail, curry mutton, fried chicken, jerk chicken, rice and peas, and stir-fried vegetables—dishes deeply rooted in Caribbean culinary tradition.
Andrea was assisted in the kitchen by her sister, Jacquiline Dixon, and family friend Hopeton Dunkley, turning the meal into a warm, family-driven effort.
Lakers forward Adou Thiero expressed appreciation for the gesture, noting, “I appreciate DA and his family for doing this for us. It’s always good to have a home-cooked meal.”
The event not only introduced the team to Jamaican flavors but also highlighted the cultural pride and family values Ayton continues to share with his teammates.
