Speaking to the media ahead of opening night, Lakers star LeBron James gave some flowers to his longtime teammate and co-star, Anthony Davis. In response to a question, the 4x MVP called Davis one of the All-Time greats of team history and insisted that he’s everything the Lakers could ask for in a franchise player.
“[Anthony Davis] is great, man… AD’s amazing. We’ve been here for the longest now, year six for me, year five for AD. We’re both co-captains and he’s just as much a leader of this ball club as I am. I have a lot of the guards that I take care of and he’s got a lot of the forwards and bigs to take care of and visa-versa. We switch off, that’s how our leadership is. AD’s everything that this franchise could want and more… He’s one of the greatest bigs to play for this franchise, for sure.”
LeBron James on Anthony Davis:
“AD's great, man. AD's amazing… We're both co-captains, and he's just as much of a leader of this ballclub as I am…AD's everything that this franchise could want and more..,He's one of the greatest bigs to play for this franchise, for sure." pic.twitter.com/1EP3QjnVtD
— michael corvo (@michaelcorvo_) October 21, 2023
This isn’t the first time that LeBron has spoken such highly of his star teammate, and it probably won’t be the last time either. What makes this time different from the rest, however, is how much LeBron needs Davis to step up and start taking control for himself. As James ages out of the NBA, the Lakers will be Davis’ team alone and their future rests almost entirely on his shoulders.
What Should We Expect From Anthony Davis?
At 30 years old, Anthony Davis is still in the prime of his career and this season could be one of the best we’ve seen from him. In 56 games last season, Davis posted an impressive stat line of 25.9 points per game on 56% shooting as one of the league’s best interior defenders. This season, Darvin Ham has special plans to utilize Davis more as not only a rim runner but also a long-distance shooter who can space the floor.
Of course, the key for Davis will be his health. With a long history of injuries that date back several years, AD’s availability has been less than reliable throughout this career. The hope in LA is that with a full offseason of rest, and some luck on their side, the Lakers can finally get a fully healthy season out of Davis, just like they had in 2020 when they won the NBA Finals.
The Last Dance For The Lakers
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has gone all-in on the title pursuit this season. With signings like Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, and Gabe Vincent, he was able to secure more depth for the Lakers without breaking up the core that made the West Finals a few months ago. Unfortunately, the championship window will not stay open forever and the end isn’t too far off at this point.
This December, LeBron James will turn 39 years old and it’s only a matter of time before he hangs up his jersey for good. Couple that with an aging Anthony Davis and rising competition in the West, and it’s undeniable that the window is closing for this Lakers group. But as long as it’s still open, you can bet that the franchise will be doing everything they can to maximize their talent in pursuit of the ultimate prize.
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