Anthony Davis Gets Called The Best Defensive Player Of His Era By NBA Analyst

Anthony Davis is being hailed as the best defender of his era by an analyst.

3 Min Read

Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

• Anthony Davis was called the best defensive player of his era

• The take came from The Volume’s Jason Timpf

• Timpf argues that what Davis has shown defensively through the 2020 playoffs proves he has the highest defensive ceiling in the NBA

Anthony Davis is a standout two-way player, but his defense is a far better asset than his scoring ability. Jason Timpf believes that Davis could have a claim to the throne of the best defender of this era if he was healthy more often.

“Anthony Davis, when we look back at this era, his claim to fame is that he’s the best defensive player of this era when he’s healthy. I have never seen anyone reach the individual defensive ceiling that AD reached in the 2020 playoffs. When it comes to defensive impact on a game by one player on a series, I don’t think anyone in this era can touch what Anthony Davis has been able to do.”

It’s hard to call someone with no Defensive Player of the Year trophies the best defender of his era. However, I am inclined to agree with Timpf because when we’ve seen AD locked in and healthy, there’s no player that can defend as well as him. 

We saw this play out in the 2023 playoffs as well, where Davis became the undisputed best defensive player in the NBA and stifled every matchup until the Lakers faced a mismatch against dominant eventual champions, the Denver Nuggets.


Anthony Davis’ Defense Couldn’t Stop The Best

We have a very recent example to draw upon when looking at the major flaws in AD’s game defensively. As he’s gotten older and more injury-prone, his movement on defense has suffered. He’s still one of the best shot-blockers and help defenders, but he can’t guard one-on-one situations like he used to.

Nikola Jokic proved that the way Davis defends can be easily broken apart by a high-IQ player. Whether it’s attracting Davis to create an open look in the paint or dribbling by the Lakers’ center and hitting an impossible shot, Jokic annihilated the defensive monster that was supposed to lock him up. He averaged 27.8 points, 14.5 rebounds and 11.8 assists.

Players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Draymond Green have a better healthy record as well as accolades to be in the conversation for the best defender of this era. AD is a generational talent, but never being healthy enough to even win a DPOY is going to haunt his all-time status.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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