Anthony Davis is heading into the 2022-23 season expecting to make a massive difference on the court for the LA Lakers. Davis is reportedly in the best shape of his career and is expected to be the primary option for the Lakers featuring LeBron James in his 20th season in the league.
The one award Davis has come close to winning before is Defensive Player of the Year, losing out to Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2020. Davis has all the defensive tools to be in the running for the award this season if he can play for long enough. His new hairstyle getting an endorsement from Ben Wallace has further motivated the star to go after being DPOY.
“You see big Ben over there? You know what he said? He said, ‘I like your hair.’ With the headband, I was like ‘yo!’ I put two arm bands on and maybe I get Defensive Player of the Year.”
It’s good to see that the Los Angeles Lakers players are in good spirits ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season. Having somebody like Ben Wallace helping them reach the next level defensively speaking is a major boost, and AD can use that in his advantage.
Can Anthony Davis Be The Defensive Player Of The Year?
Anthony Davis has had issues being consistent on the court, whether it is staying healthy or performing at an elite level regularly. His defense by counting stats always looks sensational, as Davis has rarely averaged less than one steal and two blocks a game. The one time in LA that he has failed to register 2 blocks a game was in 2020-21, an injury-ridden season for AD.
If Davis can continue putting up such high production defensive numbers on a Lakers team that can enjoy success on the court, he is likely to be in the running for the trophy again this season. Ultimately, the final win-loss record for the Lakers will be the deciding factor in how highly voters view AD’s defensive contributions.
Davis needs to have a banner season in 2022-23 to help the Lakers be competitive in the West. If he can deliver on the lofty expectations, he might be in a strong position to be DPOY.
