Jalen Rose isn’t sold on the idea that Anthony Davis is a top 5 player in the NBA right now. AD has taken his game to the next level with the Los Angeles Lakers, sharing touches with LeBron James and other veterans that lifted the level of the team. Davis is seen as the best player of the team, a team where LeBron James plays, but for Rose, he’s not a top 5 player in the association.
On Monday’s edition of ESPN’s NBA Countdown, Rose and Jay Williams discussed their most exciting first-round series in the 2020 NBA Playoffs as well as which team has the most pressure in the postseason. At some point, Rose claimed AD wasn’t part of the highest elite after Williams said Davis and Bron both were top 5 players (2:40 minute mark).
“I love AD, but I’ve been modifying this the last couple of years. He’s between six and eight, he ain’t top 5 yet,” Rose said. “That’s Dame Dolla.”
“AD is All-NBA First Team, but we talk about the five best players in the game, he got more work to do. I really believe he got more work to do to get mentioned in that top 5.”
Rose elaborated and explained what AD needs to do to be part of that top 5.
“This year in the playoffs, this is why we wanted him in L.A., this is why he wanted to be there, to play in the big stage with LeBron James. I think this is an opportunity for him to have that coming out party.”
AD led the Lakers in PPG, RPG, SPG, and BPG during the regular season, and now is the time he steps up and brings more help to his team. LeBron wasn’t the clearest player in front of the rim and the Brow took care of the offense. That’s what this team needs if they want to succeed in this campaign. They will start the playoffs against a very dangerous rival in the Blazers and the journey won’t get any easier after that.
They need LeBron, yes, but they will need Davis if they really want to thrive this year.
