As far as this season goes, Anthony Davis has had a relatively underwhelming season by his own standards. He is currently averaging 23.7 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 2.2 BPG this season, which are good numbers for an ordinary player. However, his production is definitely worse than his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and some of the seasons he’s had with the New Orleans Pelicans.
However, as of late, Anthony Davis has been playing like a superstar once again. Over his last 5 games, he is averaging 29.2 PPG, 13.2 RPG, and 2.8 BPG and there’s no question that he’s been playing well since coming back from his injury.
Anthony Davis over his last 5 games:
29.2 PPG
13.2 RPG
2.8 BPG
1.8 SPG
58% FG
He’s back 🔥 pic.twitter.com/b7EDQfP4zu
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 6, 2022
Anthony Davis was recently asked about his recent improvement in play. Davis claimed that he “wasn’t helping the team as much” as he could have, and added that the time away with his knee injury allowed him to “step away from the game and just evaluate” with himself.
Here's AD's expansive and honest answer to @mcten on his mindset since returning from his knee injury: https://t.co/fSm6QNBZhl pic.twitter.com/Fs7lCRBMJF
— michael corvo (@michaelcorvo_) February 6, 2022
I knew – even though the numbers were kinda there – I didn’t feel like myself. Wasn’t helping the team as much as I could have to win basketball games early in the year. I take ownership of that. And when the knee injury happened I was able to step away from the game and just evaluate myself.
Not looking at other guys and what they could be doing. Looking at myself in the mirror and seeing how I could be better. And I just took it upon myself to have that mindset of, being that AD that they wanted to bring here; playing with energy, playing with effort, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, energy on the defensive end.
It’s kind of what I just took upon myself to do since I returned. No matter who we’re playing I have to be that for our team. And that’s what I’ve been as of late. And you see our games have been different. Knowing that they feed off me on the defensive end. Energy, effort. So I try to bring that every game for our guys. And hopefully every night can result in a win.
Hopefully, we see Anthony Davis continue this amazing stretch of play. He’s definitely been phenomenal on both ends of the floor, and the Los Angeles Lakers will definitely need that from him if they want to avoid the play-in tournament. Perhaps reinforcements could be on the way through, and it was reported that the team is looking to trade some of their veterans ahead of the trade deadline.
The Los Angeles Lakers have clearly been a team that has struggled with consistency this year. There’s no doubt that a healthy Anthony Davis will help solve some of their issues on the defensive end, but it remains to be seen if they manage to go on a winning run.
